fa-Tru' 

t V. 


1 


THE  CEXTURT  OF  FEEPAEATION,  AND  THE  MEANS  AND  TIME  OF  FULFILLMENT. 


A 


S E R M 0 N 

DELm:KED  liEFORE  THE 

FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 


OP 


NEW-YORK  AYD  BROOKLYN, 

ATEIL  9th,  ISW. 


BY 

REV.  GEORGE  B.  CIIEEVER,  D.D-, 

PASTOB  OF  THE  CmTECH  OF  THE  PUETTANS. 


yuhlis^th  6j!  tfie  Sotutg. 


NEW-YORK : 


ALMON  MERWIN, 


BIBLE  HOUSE,  ASTOR  PLACE. 


1 854. 


SERMON 


PSALU  51  : 12,  13.  IS.  11  : 9. 

" Restore  unto  mo  tho  joy  of  thy  salvation,  and  uphold  me  with  thy  free  Spirit : 
then  will  I teach  transgressors  thy  ways,  and  sinners  shall  bo  converted  unto  theo.” 

“ For  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  tho  knowledge  of  tho  Lord,  as  tho  waters 
cover  the  sea,” 


Although  these  texts  are  three  hundred  years  asun- 
der, yet  the  connection  between  them  is  immediate,  and 
the  truth  is  one.  The  knowledge  of  the  Lord  which  is 
to  fill  the  earth,  is  that  which  is  taught  by  the  free 
Spirit  of  God,  that  which  causes  an  ’ experience  of  the 
joy  of  God’s  salvation,  and  that  which  issues  in  the 
conversion  of  sinners  unto  God.  Moreover,  the  Christ- 
ian joy,  the  experience  of  salvation  by  the  Spirit,  is  the 
impulse  and  agency  for  communicating  the  knowledge 
of  the  Lord,  and  carrying  on  the  work  of  conversion, 
all  the  world  over. 

And  it  is  a fact,  not  withou,t  great  significance,  that 
the  first  marked  development  of  the  missionary  enter- 
prise in  the  word  of  God  is  in  the  book  of  deepest 
personal  Christian  experience,  the  book  of  Psalms.  All 
that  precedes  is  mainly  historical  and  preparatory ; but 
this  book  opens  a new  dispensation,  and  launches,  at 
the  very  beginning,  upon  a sea  of  thought  and  expecta- 
tion in  regard  fb  the  coming  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer 


4 


over  all  the  world.  And  as  to  the  foundation  of  things 
in  Christian  experience,  when  that  of  the  Psalmist  is  the 
deepest,  though  out  of  the  desolation  of  guilt  and  self- 
despair,  then  and  there  the  missionary  intuition  rises 
the  highest,  as  in  the  centre  of  the  51st  Psalm:  “Re- 
store unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation,  and  uphold  me 
with  thy  free  Spirit ; then  will  I teach  transgressors 
thy  ways,  and  sinners  shall  he  converted  unto  thee.” 
We  take  this  as  an  example  or  description  of  the  Icind 
of  religion  to  prevail.  The  text  from  Isaiah,  and  other 
j)redictions  from  the  prophets  and  the  Psalms,  indicate 
with  the  same  clearness  the  universality  of  the  Re- 
deemer’s kingdom. 

Three  hundred  years  after  the  voices  of  the  Psalms, 
the  central  prophecies  of  Isaiah  break  forth,  and  it  is  a 
part  of  his  vision  of  the  cross,  tliat  “ the  glory  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  revealed,  and  all  flesh  shall  see  it 
together.”  Three  hundred  years  again  pass  away,  and 
besides  the  voice  in  Ilabakkuk,  and  the  resplendent 
night-visions  of  Daniel,  with  the  Ancient  of  Days,  and 
the  throne  as  of  flery  flame,  and  the  A\dieels  as  of  burn- 
ing fire,  and  the  Son  of  Man  in  tlie  clouds  of  heaven, 
and  the  everlasting  dominion,  and  the  kingdom  of  all 
people,'  nations,  and  languages,  serving  him, — another 
miglity  beacon  rises,  the  last  pro])hetic  blaze  of  gloiy 
in  Malachi:'  “Foi*,  from  the  rising  of  tlie  sun,  even  unto 
the  going  down  of  the  same,  my  name  shall  be  great 
among  the  Gentiles;  and  in  every  jdace  incense  shall 
be  offered  unto  my  name,  and  a i)ure  oftering;  for  my 
name  shall  be  great  among  the  heathen,  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts.” 

We  propose  now  to  consider,  first,  the  nature  of  the 


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piety  wliicli  is  to  prevail  in  the  prevalence  of  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Lord,  and  consecpiently  both  tlie  glory 
and  gradualism  of  the  fulfillment  of  these  predictions  ; 
and  second,  Ave  shall  examine  some  of  the  signs  indicat- 
ing the  convergency  of  these  predictions,  for  fulfill- 
ment, into  our  own  epoch  in  the  world’s  history,  and 
the  consequent  illustration  of  our  responsibilities. 

There  is  this  characteristic  belonging  to  the  great 
successive  develojAinents  of  prophecy,  at  Avhich  Ave  have 
glanced,  that  at  every  such  era,  out  of  the  tide  of  ordi- 
nary providences,  injunctions,  pre-intimations,  and  fore- 
shadoAving  events,  certain  vast,  decisive,  unquestionable 
announcements  and  decrees  arise  like  mountains  of  sheer 
granite  out  of  oceans  of  shifting  sands,  remaining  in  a 
perpetual  immutability,  Avith  letters  as  fixed  and  as 
shining  as  the  north  star,  and  forming  a position  as 
sublime  and  unmistakable,  for  the  couq)arison  and  rec- 
tification of  all  other  positions  and  observations.  We 
have  adverted  to  a feAV  of  these  announcements.  Thev 
have  but  one  meaning.  The  lights  blazing  from  them, 
as  fixed  beacons,  are  shot  across  great  gulfs.  They 
Avere,  Avhen  first  kindled,  like  signal  rockets  to  the  uni- 
verse. Yet  in  respect  to  the  then  understanding  of 
their  meaning  on  this  earth,  even  the  inspired  souls  out 
of  Avhich  they  Avere  issued  Avere  almost  as  unseeing  as 
the  material  tubes,  out  of  which  the  fire-Avork  flame  of 
human  ingenuity  is  shot  into  the  sky.  When  the  pro- 
phet Isaiah  Avrote,  and  the  night-diviner  Daniel,  the 
kingdom,  and  the  Being,  and  the  glory  of  Avhich  they 
Avrote,  were  yet  to  be  revealed.  And  when  Malachi 
followed  in  a similar  prediction,  as  precise  as  the 
thunder-bolt,  as  clear  as  the  lightning,  the  promised 


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glory  was  almost  entirely  covered  up  in  darkness,  or  at 
least  in  secrecy  and  mystery,  Altkougli  revealed 
partially,  beforehand,  by  the  instrumentality  of  the 
prophets,  it  was  not  understood ; not  even  they  them- 
selves understood  it,  though  amazed  at  it,  and  searching 
diligently  what,  or  what  manner  of  time,  the  Spirit  of 
God  which  was  in  them  did  signify,  when  it  testified 
beforehand  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  glory  that 
should  follow. 

But  this  revelation  of  God’s  glory  on  the  cross,  so 
stupendous,  and  by  itself  so  utterly  incomprehensible, 
in  the  incarnation,  sufferings,  and  death  of  the  Son  of 
God,  was  to  be  further  demonstrated  and  explained,  in 
its  mysteries  of  beatific  grandeur,  by  the  existence  of 
the  Church.  The  Holy  Spirit  was  to  be  poured  down, 
and  the  hearts  of  sinful  men  Avere  to  be  gathered  to 
Christ,  and  renewed,  through  the  power  of  his  cross, 
that  unto  principalities  and  powers  in  the  heavenly 
world  might  be  made  known  by  the  Church  the  immi- 
fold  Avisdom  of  God.  It  Avas  a stupendous  revelation, 
indeed,  Avhen  Christ  hung  upon  the  cross ; but  until 
souls  began  to  be  gathered  into  his  Church  through  his 
blood,  even  the  highest  intelligences  of  the  lieaA’enly 
Avorld  could  not  begin  to  understand  its  glory.  For 
this  purpose,  it  is  distinctly  declared  that  God  had 
mercy  on  the  first  believers,  and  quickened  them  toge- 
ther Avith  Christ,  even  Avhen  they  Avere  dead  in  sins,  and 
raised  them  up,  and  made  them  sit  together  in  heavenly 
places  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  in  the  ages  to  come  he 
might  shoAV  the  exceeding  riches  of  his  grace  in  his 
kindness  toAvard  them  through  Christ  Jesus.  And 
every  company  of  believers  that  Avere  added  to  the  fimt 


1 


company,  were  so  many  added  pages  in  the  book  of  this 
revelation,  so  many  new  illuminating  lights,  attracting 
all  men  to  the  cross,  so  many  new  reflections  and 
demonstrations  of  the  glory  of  the  cross.  They  were 
so  many  new  depths,  new  galleries  opened  up,  in  the 
mines  of  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ;  and  when 
by  the  passing  of  this  re.demption  from  Jews  to  Gen- 
tiles, the  'anivermlity  of  it,  as  well  as  the  nature  of  it, 
beoran  to  be  fully  demonstrated,  this  was  a mystery, 
which  had  been  hid  from  ages  and  from  generations, 
but  was  then  made  manifest  to  God’s  holy  creatures,  to 
whom  he  would  make  known  the  riches  of  the  glory  of 
this  mystery  among  the  Gentiles,  even  Christ  in  them^ 
the  hope  of  glory. 

Perhaps  there  are  other  revelations  going  on  in  hea- 
ven, perhaps  in  other  worlds,  about  which  we  as  yet 
know  nothing.  The  whole  univei*se  of  God  is  moved, 
irradiated,  beatified  by  this  mystery;  and  it  may  be  in 
ways  as  incomprehensible  to  us,  in  this  dawn  of  our 
knowledge,  as  the  glory  of  Christ  in  the  Church  was 
incomprehensible  to  those,  who  saw  only  through  tj^jies 
and  prophecies  a Saviour  yet  to  be  revealed.  This 
revelation  of  Christ  upon  the  cross,  and  Christ  in  the 
Church,  is  that  to  which  Isaiah  refers,  when  he  says  that 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  revealed,  and  all  flesh 
shall  see  it  together.  It  was  a revelation  of  such  bound- 
less glory,  that,  if  it  had  stopped  with  the  first  church, 
it  had  been  enough  to  have  filled  all  heaven  with 
praise,  all  the  universe  with  a knowledge  of  God  before 
unimagined. 

But  it  did  not  stop  with  the  first  church.  The  revela- 
tion ran  on  from  glory  to  glory,  from  generation  to  gene- 


8 


ration,  from  heart  to  heart,  from  Jews  to  Gentiles,  from 
continent  to  continent.  On  some  accounts  the  first  mani- 
festations of  this  glory  were  the  brightest,  the  loveliest, 
the  most  exciting : partly  because  they  succeeded  a long 
night  of  darkness,  of  which  the  Jewish  dispensation  itself 
did  but  break  the  j:)ower  with  a gradual  morning  twi- 
light, prophetic  of  the  perfect,  day  ; and  partly  because 
God  had^  resolved  that  they  should  shine  especially  to 
the  praise  of  his  glory,  who  first  trusted  in  Christ.  They 
were  as  the  mountain-tops,  that  caught  and  refiected  the 
rising  glory,  long  before  it  could  flood  the  busy  world, 
and'  Avhile  the  vales  were  yet  sleeping  in  darkness. 
Witnessed  from  Mount  Righi,  in  Switzerland,  the  sun- 
rise is  a scene  that  presents  to  the  sj)iritual  imagination 
a beautiful  illustration  of  the  light  of  God  pouring  from 
truth  to  truth,  from  mind  to  mind,  till  it  floods  the 
world  with  its  brightness.  But  the  great  surpassing 
glory  of  that  view  is  the  vast  range  of  snow-covered 
mountains  receiving  the  rosy  light  upon  their  summits, 
and  blazing  with  it,  as  if  they  had  all  broken  into  pyra- 
mids of  flame,  before  you  could  see  the  sun  above  the 
horizon,  and  while  the  eastern  sky  was  but  reddening 
ill  the  morning.  The  sun  was  yet  to  rise,  and  riding  in 
the  firmament,  in  the  noon  of  his  power,  was  to  pervade 
ivith  the  light  of  perfect  day,  the  lakes,  the  vales,  the 
forests,  the  cities,  the  hamlets;  but  nothing  in  the  em- 
])ire  of  light,  nothing  in  the  changes  of  nature,  nothing 
ill  Alpine  scenery  could  be  so  magnificent,  so  exciting 
ill  its  loveliness,  so  transcendent  in  its  glory,  as  the  first 
kindling  of  those  mighty  pyramids  of  ice  and  snow  into 
that  blaze  of  light,  into  those  flashing  pinnacles  of 
flame,  when  the  sun  first  fell  upon  them.  So  in  some 


9 


degree  is  it  with  the  progress  of  the  Gospel.  Tlie  first 
Cliristians,  and  the  earliest  Christian  churches,  still 
stand  in  the  mind’s  eye  Avith  that  earliest,  purest,  love- 
liest hash  of  the  light  of  the  cross  upon  them ; there 
they  still  shine  brightest  to  God’s  glory,  who  first 
trusted  in  Christ.  We  are  beginning  now  to  see  the 
liorht  travellins:  down  into  the  vales ; earth’s  caverns 
are  reached  by  it,  and  the  spears  of  grass  in  misty  mea- 
dows begin  to  be  as  radiant  as  the  tojDs  of  the  snow- 
shining  mountains.  But  never  perhaps  can  we  see  re- 
peated such  a scene  of  glory  as  that  was,  Avhen  the 
Sun  of  Bighteoiisness  first  rose  upon  our  Avorld,  and 
kindled  the  blaze  in  those  Judean  churches. 

xVnd  yet,  in  diflereut  parts  of  our  Avorld,  as  Christ 
Jesus  rises  upon  them,  as  his  love,  his  Spirit,  pours  into 
darkened  hearts,  and  gathers  churches,  Ave  behold,  and 
shall  continue  to  behold,  similar  manifestations  of  the 
Divine  glory.  There  are  scenes  even  now  transacting 
in  the  East,  so  SAveet  in  their  manifestation  of  the  poAver 
of  Christ’s  love,  so  full  of  the  revelation  of  the  glory  of 
God,  so  demonstrative  of  the  power  of  the  Gospel  to 
bless  the  world,  that  they  are  inferior  in  interest  to  no- 
thing that  has  transpired  in  the  progress  of  the  Ke- 
deemer’s  kincjdom. 

Some  twenty  years  ago,  about  the  year  1834,  there 
was  born  among  the  mountains  of  Koordistau,  a boy, 
who  grew  up  to  his  thirteenth  3’ear  in  habits  of  rude- 
ness, ignorance,  and  profaneness.  His  native  mountain 
home  was  in  the  \dllage  of  Gawar,  among  the  Nestorians. 
In  his  thirteenth  year,  he  began  for  the  first  time  to  hear 
of  the  glory  of  God,  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  being 


10 


brouslit  under  tlie  instruction  of  the  Missionaries,  whose 
seminary  for  the  education  of  youth  had  not  long  before 
been  established  in  Ooroomiah.  Two  years  had  been 
passed  in  this  institution,  when  a very  precious  work  of 
Divine  grace  commenced  among  the  pupils,  and  this 
youth,  in  the  year  1S49,  became  a sincere  and  enlight- 
ened Christian,  From  that  time  he  entered  upon  a 
course  of  prayerfuluess  and  holy  living,  the  brightness 
and  blessedness  of  which  have  seldom  been  exceeded 
since  the  days  of  the  primitive  Christians.  At  the  very 
outset,  it  was  a remarkable  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
One  of  the  missionaries,  on  a visit  to  Gawar  in  1849, 
passing  the  ruins  of  an  old  church,  only  the  walls  of 
which  were  standing,  overheard  a lad  engaged  in 
prayer,  pouring  out  his  soul  with  such  humility  and  fer- 
vor, that  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  his  being  taught  of 
God : it  was  this  converted  herdsman  of  the  mountains. 
Fi’om  that  time  forward,  he  was  a bright  and  shining 
light,  lie  made  great  attainments  in  prayer,  Ilis  gifts 
and  capabilities  became  remtti'kable,  and  during  the 
season  of  religious  interest  he  Avould  sometimes  ]>ray  for 
nearly  the  whole  night,  borne  upward  with  intense  an- 
gelic fervor.  Three  or  four  seasons  a day  Avere  custom- 
ary Avith  him  for  solitary  and  secret  communion  AA'ith 
God,  and  often  he  spent  two  hours  in  the  exercise  of 
prayer.  With  all  this,  he  aa'ias  delightfully  consistent  in 
the  holiness  of  his  life,  in  conscientious  industry,  dutiful- 
ness, and  cheerful,  happy,  untiring  eftbrts  for  the  good 
of  others.  He  aa-ouIiI,  young  as  he  Avas,  assemble  the 
])eople  of  his  native  village  on  the  Sabbath  for  religious 
services;  and  even  upon  the  most  careless  hearts,  the 


11 


fervor,  constancy,  and  affectionate  earnestness  of  Ids 
prayei’S  and  conversations  made  a deep  impression. 
Never  had  such  a case  been  known;  it  was  as  if  a 
youthful  serapli  had  taken  a fliglit  from  heaven  to  ani- 
mate a mortal  body.  Two  years  did  this  light  shine, 
and  then  it  wjis  to  be  removed  to  the  world  of  celestial 
glory.  If  its  radiance  had  been  beautiful  on  earth,  its 
departure  was  like  the  translation  of  Elijah  in  the  cha- 
riot of  Israel,  with  the  horsemen  thereof  The  ])eoi)le 
had  never  witnessed  such  a life ; its  beauty  of  holiness 
was  crowned  with  a death  so  triumphant  as  had  never 
in  that  region  been  known. 

He  was  laid  upon  his  sick  and  dying  bed  from  amidst 
the  labors  of  a heavenly  revival  of  religion,  in  which 
his  soul  had  delighted  ; and  a death-bed  so  happy,  and 
so  uninterruptedly  illumined  by  the  presence  of  the 
Saviour,  his  missionary  teacher  declared  he  had  never 
before  seen,  either  there  or  in  his  native  land.  In  the 
midst  of  the  deepest  self-abasement,  in  connection  with 
the  clearest  apprehension  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as 
his  righteousness  and  salvation,  a succession  of  heavenly 
realities  and  spiritual  visions  seemed  unvailed  before 
him.  He  could  almost  behold  the  myriads  of  angels 
suiTounding  the  Redeemer  in  heaven,  and  hear  them 
chanting  halleluias  to  his  praise.  In  the  glow  of  his 
emotions,  he  began  to  sing  a hymir,  that  contained  some 
lines  of  exclamation  in  regard  to  those  celestial  inhabi- 
tants. “'Would  that  I could  rejoice  with  your  joy!” 
Then  the  vision  changed,  the  unbelieving  world  came 
up  before  him,  and  he  cried  out,  “ O wretched  sinners  ! 
"Wretched  millions  going  down  to  hell!  My  heart 


12 


bleeds  for  them  ! How  near  is  Jesus  ? Will  they  not 
look  to  him  and  be  saved?  One  prayer  of  the  peni- 
tent thief  would  save  them  all !”  He  prayed  earnestly 
and  aloud,  and  when  entreated  to  cease  for  a season,  he 
exclaimed,  “ How  can  I cease  ? I must  })ray.  I can  not 
cease  from  it.  If  my  mouth  were  shut,  my  heart  would 
still  pray,  and  praise  the  Lord.”  Again,  after  convers- 
ing with  One  of  the  missionaries,  he  closed  his  eyes,  and 
offered  one  of  the  most  touching  prayers  ever  heard, 
and  quite  impossible  to  be  rej^eated.  He  began  by  ex- 
pressing a desire  to  die  and  be  with  Christ ; but  then 
he  checked  himself,  saying,  “ Not  my  will  but  thine  be 
done.”  He  then  proceeded,  in  a most  humble  and  peni- 
tent strain,  to  sj^eak  of  his  own  vileness  and  utter  un- 
worthiuess,  and  to  adore  the  sovereign  and  unmerited 
love  of  God  in  calling  him  to  be  an  heir  of  his  grace, 
and  in  making  him  a partaker  of  the  promises.  His 
humble  confessions  of  sin,  his  stron<x  confidence  in  the 
efficacy  of  the  great  Atoning  Sacrifice,  even  for  him*  sin- 
ful as  he  was,  his  entire  renunciation  of  all  righteousness 
of  his  own,  and  all  dependence  upon  anything  save  the 
grace  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  were  deeply  affecting. 
He  ceased  praying,  and  Avhen  he  opened  his  eyes,  seeing 
his  friends  weeping  around  him,  “ Why,”  cried  he,  “ do 
you  weep  ? If  it  is  the  Avill  of  God  that  I die,  my  heart 
is  burning  to  see  Christ,  and  behold  him  in  his  glory. 
My  heart  is  burning,  my  heart  is  burning!”  It  Avas  the 
flame  of  a SaAuour’s  loAm  that  burned  so  brightl}'’,  and 
here  Avas  a monument  of  grace  justl}''  asserted  to  be  iii- 
ffnitely'more  than  all  the  treasure  and  self-denial  c.x- 
pended  by  the  Church  in  the  Avhole  history  of  missions. 


13 


Ills  views  of  God,  and  of  tlie  glories  of  the  eternal 
world,  seem  wholly  nnaccoiintahle,  save  on  the  supposi- 
tion of  a special  illumination  given  to  departing  spirits. 
Their  originality  and  sublimity  were  marvellous  in  the 
extreme.  Tlie  eternal  throne,  the  pei'sons  of  the  God- 
head seated  there,  the  solemn  transactions  of  the  final 
day,  the  joys  of  heaven,  the  garments  of  celestial  glory, 
were  successively  passing  before  his  mind,  as  things  of 
unmistakable  reality.  “Moses  on  the  mount,”  he  re- 
marked, “did  not  see  God  as  I see  him.  But  no  mortal 
has  seen  him  as  he  is.  Ilis  glory  is  inexpressible.  I can 
not  tell  you  any  thing  about  it.  Oh ! the  ravishing 
beauties  of  heaven,  the  shining  garments  of  the  blessed! 
What  is  all  earthly  beauty  compared  with  these !”  Thus 
his  joy  and  exultation  were  overflowing.  In  the  midst 
of  the  severest  pains,  he  would  break  forth  in  songs  of 
praise.  He  saw  himself,  as  it  were,  surrounded  by  glo- 
rified spirits,  and  he  longed  to  mingle  his  halleluias  with 
theirs.  He  almost  believed  himself  one  of  them. 

Here  again,  as  of  old,  God  seems  to  have  resolved 
that  they  should  be  to  the  praise  of  his  glory  who  first 
trusted  in  Christ.  The  light  of  this  young  man’s  life, 
and  the  glory  of  his  death,  still  shine.  The  effect  of  his 
decease  upon  the  spectators  was  truly  overwhelming, 
and  the  power  of  such  a triumphant  testimony  to  the 
glory  and  blessedness  of  faith  in  Christ,  the  power  of 
such  an  exhibition  of  the  transforming,  transfiguring 
glory  of  the  Gospel,  in  a youth  who,  but  a year  or  two 
before  his  death,  was  a profane,  ignorant,  degraded  boy 
among  the  wilds  of  Koordistan,  is  invaluable,  both,  for  the 
encouragement  of  toiling  missionaries,  and  the  producing 


14 


of  conviction  and  faitli  in  the  minds  of  the  careless.  It 
is  thus  that  at  length  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  re- 
vealed, and  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together. 

And  then  again,  how  lovely  such  examples  of  jnety  ! 
So  like  the  brightest  manifestations  of  the  grace  of  God 
in  the  earliest  Pentecostal  effusions  of  the  Spirit ! This 
converted  boy,  this  wild  one  in  the  mountains,  so  trans- 
formed from  all  his  rudeness,  profaneness,  ignorance, 
and  insensibility,  into  a glowing,  winged  messenger  of 
Christ,  with  but  one  absorbing  thought  and  experience 
in  his  heart,  Christ’s  love ; and  one  entrancing  object 
and  effort  in  his  life,  Christ’s  kingdom  and  glory ! It 
is  an  example  for  the  best  and  brightest  Christians  in 
our  land.  “ My  heart  is  burning  to  see  Christ,  and  be- 
hold him  in  his  glory!”  Oh  ! this  is  just  what  we  need, 
to  make  us  all  powerful  and  happy,  hearts  burning, 
hearts  on  fire  with  a Saviour’s  love.  And  whereas  some 
may  think,  in  the  view  of  their  own  poor  attainments, 
as  comj:)ared  with  such  a manifestation  of  Divine  grace, 
that  this  is  a gift  of  God’s  sovereign  grace,  which  such 
poor,  miserable,  weak  things  as  we  dare  hardly  look  for, 
we  would  say,  and  especially  to  youthful  disciples,  that 
it  is  just  what  we  may  all  attain,  if  we  will  take  the 
same  steps,  undergo  the  same  discipline,  apply  ourselves 
with  the  same  fervor.  We  would  take  you  back  to  that 
ruined  mountain  church  in  Gawar,  and  tell  you  to  listen 
to  the  earliest  outpourings  of  the  soul  of  that  converted 
boy  in  prayer,  and  ask  you  if  you  suppose  that  he  would 
ever  have  gained  that  blissful  height  and  depth  of 
heavenly  experience,  had  it  not  been  for  his  earnestness 
in  prayer,  those  protracted  and  fervent  seasons  of  wrest 


15 


ling  with  God,  set  as  heavenly  fixtures  in  his  daily 
existence  ? And  are  not  the  same  means  of  grace  and 
glory  at  your  command  ? 

And  once  more,  we  shall  all  meet  this  converted  hoy 
at  the  judgment.  We  shall  meet  him  with  thousands 
like  him,  gathered  from  the  wilds  of  heathenism,  from 
the  mountains  and  the  plains,  from  the  hills  and  the 
valleys,  first-fruits  of  glory,  as  the  vail  is  raised  of  the 
dark  coverincr  once  cast  over  the  face  of  all  nations. 

O 

We  shall  gaze  upon  him  at  the  judgment.  But  oh ! 
what  multitudes  will  see  him,  who  heard  this  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God  all  their  days,  before  whose  vision 
Christ  and  his  glory  passed  from  their  very  infancy, 
■who  yet,  to  the  day  of  their  death,  neglected  and  re- 
jected him,  both  the  vision  and  the  Being,  both  the  truth 
and  the  Saviour,  nay,  who  passed  through  many  a 
revival  of  religion,  in  lands  flooded  with  his  light, 
oppressed  vdth  his  invitations  and  urgencies  of  mercy, 
and  yet  died  in  their  sins ! How  •will  such  self-chosen, 
self-condemned  outcasts  gaze  upon  such  a sight  as  this 
transfigured  boy  in  heaven  ? 

Such  is  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer  that  is  to 

O 

occupy  the  earth  ; such  is  the  nature  of  the  piety  that 
is  to  prevail,  when  the  kno-wledge  of  God  prevails ; and 
this  is  one  little  page  illustrative  of  the  nature  of  the 
missionary  enterprise.  This  is  the  joy  of  God’s  salva- 
tion, and  the  working  of  his  free  Spirit. 

W e come  now,  in  the  second  place,  to  the  imiversality 
of  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom,  in  this  kind  of  piety,  and  to 
an  examination  of  some  of  the  signs  indicating  the  con- 
vergency  of  the  'great  predictions  of  that  universality. 


16 


for  more  perfect  fulfillment,  into  our  o-wn  epocli  in  the 
world’s  historj",  and  the  consequent  illustration  of  our 
responsibilities.  The  grand  text  from  Isaiah  is  as  generic 
and  instructive  as  to  the  extent  and  manner,  as  the  text 
from  David,  in  regard  to  the  essence  of  the  kingdom  of 
the  Lord  among  men.  Let  ns  consider  it  for  a moment 
as  a guide,  being  justified  by  its  position,  and  the  repe- 
tition of  it  in  Habakkuk,  in  taking  the  greatest  latitude 
of  meaning  it  will  bear. 

A very  intellectual  writer  has  said,  in  some  one  of  his 
compositions,  and  with  great  beauty  of  expression,  that 
analogies  are  aerial  pontoons.  It  is  a phrase  of  admira- 
ble vividness  and  meaning..  By  material  objects,  or, 
rather,  by  suspension  at  one  eni^froni  such  objects,  they 
are  bridges  to  spiritual  truths ; by  things,  they  swing 
the  mind  forward  to  thoughts  and  ideas,  and  sometimes 
to  discoveries  high  above  the  j)oint  of  starting.  From 
the  world  that  now  is,  we  pass  over  upon  them  to  the 
world  that  is  to  come  ; and  through  faith  they  are  the 
substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things 
not  seen.  The  types  and  illustrations  of  the  prophetic 
Scriptures,  even  when  wrought  out  of  the  simplest  and 
most  obvious  materials,  possess  these  unfolding  and  ad- 
vancing properties.  Some  of  tliose  passages,  by  Avhich 
we  rise  to  a knoAvledge  of  the  times  and  extent  of  the 
Bcdeemer’s  kingdom  are  of  such  a nature ; 
they  are,  literally,  the  highways  of  Divine  Ilevelation, 
to  possessions  of  infinite  glory.  Tlie  text  from  Isaiah 
is  illustrative  by  a figure,  and  i)ro])hetic  in  the  illustra- 
tion ; that  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea;  it  is  the 


17 


heart,  the  inliul,  tlie  life,  the  usages  of  maukiiul 
upon  the  earth.  The  image  here  used  is  a very  familiar 
one,  and  it  has  become  almost  insufferably  trite  by 
being  the  stereotyped  expression  of  the  thought  and 
prayer,  unvaried  in  so  many  varieties  of  supplication, 
for  the  advancement  of  the  lledeemer’s  kingdom,  too 
often  repeated  Avith  a heart-deadening  formalism,  where 
neither  thought  nor  j)rayer  Avere  stirring  beneath  it. 
An  unreflecting  application  of  the  figure  has  caused  its 
vividness  and  its  peculiarity  of  beauty  and  of  power  to 
be  almost  lost  sight  of.  It  is  an  exceedingly  glorious 
prediction.  Nothing  can  Avell  go  beyond  the  extent  and 
distinctness  of  it.  Both  the  language  and  the  imagery 
employed  point  to  a consummation  of  holiness  and  hap- 
piness on  our  globe  in  the  prevalence  of  the  Gospel,  such 
as  Ave  ha\’e  now  but  little  conception  of, — such,  indeed, 
as  has  required  the  brightest  colors  of  inspiration  itself 
to  paint. 

If  we  watch  the  progress  of  the  ocean  tides  from  low 
to  high  water,  we  shall  find  tAVO  points  illustrated  by 
this  image  in  regard  to  the  advancement  of  the 
lledeemer’s  kingdom  ; first,  its  gradualism,  and  second, 
its  comprehensiveness  and  fullness.  Standing  by  the 
sea-shore,  and  watching  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  waves 
rising  and  receding,  we  might  be  doubtful  for  a time 
whether  the  tide  were  coming  in  or  going  out ; but  a 
little  patience  and  waiting  shall  make  us  sure.  And 
again,  we  might  be  doubtful  whether  a certain  rock  at 
a particular  headland  will  be  covered  by  the  waters,, 
whether  the  rising  tide  will  flow  over  this  or  that  shaB 
low,  or  into  this  or  that  particular  creek ; but  when  it 

9 


18 


comes  in  at  the  full,  it  is  a perfect  rush  and  revelry  of 
waters:  all  the  appointed  bounds  are  reached,  every 
nopk  and  indenture,  on  the  coast  and  far  inland,  every 
harbor  and  bay  of  the  vast  channel  of  the  deep,  is 
visited  and  overflowed.  Just  so  shall  it  be  with  the 
appointed  fullness  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord. 

Both  the  gradual  character  of  this  consummation  as 
to  its  approach,  and  the  vast  extent  as  to  its  fulfillment, 
are  to  be  realized  only  at  considerable  intervals,  and 
from  period  to  period.  Reasoning  merely  from  one 
year  to  another,  we  might  Idb  mistaken  or  deluded ; we 
might  take  a retrograde  movement  for  a forward  one, 
or  an  advancing  movement  fora  retreating  one  ; jnst  as, 
in  standing  on  the  beach,  and  watching  the  restless  tide, 
if  you  reasoned  only  from  wave  to  wave,  you  might 
suppose  an  advancing  wave  to  be  a retreating  one,  or  a 
retreating  wave  to  be  an  advancing  one.  You  must 
have  some  commanding  jiost  of  observation,  and  some 
prominent  fixtures  of  comjDarison,  extensive  and  import- 
ant enough  to  secure  you  against  hasty  inductions  and 
unfounded  conclusions.  Our  historical  fixtures  and  posts 
of  observation  run  ordinarily  from  century  to  century ; 
and  a century  of  causes  and  results,  embracing  the  full 
action  of  one  generation  on  another,  and  of  all  the  per- 
manent causes  of  influence  set  at  work  in  it,  carried  into 
a third,  affords  material  for  a large  and  tolerably  sure 
induction.  Even  a half  century  to  a good  degree  does 
this.  And  at  the  close  of  such  periods,  those  who  have 
lived  in  the  midst  of  them  seem  like  travelleis  who  have 
climbed  a lofty  mountain,  where  they  can  command,  in 
one  vast  view,  all  that  lays  behind,  and  much  that  is 


10 


before  them.  It  cannot  bnt  be  acknowledged  that  it  ib 
so  with  the  half  ceutiiiy,  which  the  great  bell  of  Time 
has  but  just  fully  tolled  off  amidst  the  ages  of  a past 
eternity.  The  last  fifty  years  have  constituted  a period 
marched  and  countermarched  with  more  wonderful 
events  and  discoveries,  revolutions,  overturnings,  changes 
both  gradual  and  sudden,  than  almost  any  equal  period 
of  settled  government  and  society  on  our  globe. 

From  century  to  century  sometimes,  and  sometimes 
from  half  century  to  half  century,  we  are  as  on  the 
mountain-tops  in  reference  to  this  advancing  and  infi- 
nitely glorious  work.  The  light  from  heaven  falls  on 
broad  regions  at  once.  AVe  almost  hear  songs  as  of 
aerial  watchmen ; we  almost  see  the  wings  of  angels 
and  archangels  gleaming  in  the  sun  ; we  almost  follow 
Heaven’s  flying  squadrons,  and  see  the  events  of  earth 
unfoldin"  in  obedience  to  their  marchinsrs  and  counter- 

O O 

marchings  in  divine  array.  But  the  earth  does  not  con- 
sist of  mountain-tops  alone,  and  were  all  the  points  and 
spaces,  where  the  glory  of  the  Lord  has  been  revealed, 
concentrated  into  one  province  at  this  very  day,  it  would 
be  so  small,  in  comparison  vdth.  the  extent  of  a world 
yet  lymg  in  wickedness,  that  we  should  be  compelled 
to  see  and  to  feel  that  as  yet  there  is  but  a faint  and 
far-off  beginning  of  the  completion  of  that  Divine  pro- 
phecy, that  all  flesh  should  see  it  together.  The  in- 
stances of  fulfillment  are,  like  the  prophecies  themselves, 
only  glorious  isolated  beacons,  from  whence  voices  are 
transmitted,  and  streams  of  light  shoot  across  vast  gulfs. 
The  time  of  Pentecostal  glory  itself  was  but  short,  and 
the  kingdom  of  the  Kedeemer  had  no  sooner  begun  to 


20 


be  established,  when  there  commenced  the  great  falling 
away  and  corruption  predicted  in  the  New  Testament, 
the  reign  and  kingdom  of  the  Man  of  Sin  and  Son  of 
Perdition,  who  was  to  be  revealed ; and  that  revelation, 
that  demonstration  of  the  power  of  Satan  in  the  great 
Romish  Mystery  of  Iniquity,  went  on  increasing  for 
centuries,  and  held  its  dominion  almost  undisturbed 
until  the  opening  of  the  Reformation.  Up  to  that  time, 
the  demonstration  upon  earth  was  not  that  of  the  power 
of  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  to  bless  the  earth,  and  save 
mankind  from  guilt  and  misery,  but  the  power  of  error, 
the  power  of  a corruption  and  hiding  of  the  truth,  and 
of  the  substitution  of  men’s  traditions  and  laws,  instead 
of  God’s  laws,  to  curse  the  world,  and  to  plunge  man- 
kind deeper  in  sin  and  wretchedness  than  ever. 

We  may  suppose,  from  what  has  taken  place,  that  it 
was  necessary,  before  the  triumph  of  the  Gospel  in  our 
fallen  world,  that  there  should  be  this  demonstration 
of  the  dreadfulness  of  a corruption  and  denial  of  the 
Gospel ; so  that  even  the  kingdom  of  the  Man  of  Sin  is 
but,  on  a mighty  scale,  a prejDaration  for  the  kingdom  of 
the  Redeemer.  There  is  light  in  the  depths  of  the  gulfs, 
as  well  as  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains.  We  need  not 
only  to  gaze  steadily  at  the  great  pro})hetic  beacons,  but 
to  be  submerged,  as  it  Avere,  to  see  Avhat  is  going  on  be- 
low ; a ])rocess  of  Divine  Providence  in  human  develoj)- 
ment  just  as  necessary  as  that  of  Divine  grace ; and 
while  Divine  grace  has  been  preparing  or  accomplisliing 
great  victories,  God  has  all  the  Avliile,  in  the  intervals, 
permitted  Satan  to  work  out  a demonstration  quite  as 
essential,  proving,  by  the  remorseless  sweep  of  his  ex- 


21 


periments,  tliat  tlie  misery  of  tlie  worl<l,  under  a human 
and  Satanic  hierarchy  in  place  of  the  Gospel,  and  under 
every  other  expedient  devised  to  answer  for  man’s 
redemption,  has  gone  on  undiminished. 

The  dead  bodies  of  criminals  are  sometimes  given  for 
the  purposes  of  dissection ; so  God  permits  experiments 
of  e\nl  to  be  tried  to  the  full  on  self-willed  and  worth- 
less communities ; they  are  good  for  dissection,  if  they 
are  good  for  nothing  else,  and  they  demonstrate  Divine 
truth,  while  fighting  against  it.  It  is  thus  that  all  the 
various  schemes  of  a proud  and  infidel  philosophy  are 
permitted  to  be  tried,  and  sometimes  it  seems  as  if  God 
appointed  particular  nations  to  such  a practical  demon- 
stration, working  out,  by  a sort  of  voluntary  vicarious 
perverseness  and  unbelief,  the  salvation  of  othei*s  from 
the  same  intellectual  and  moral  blindness.  Under  these 
various  experiments,  the  utmost  subtlety  and  ingenuity 
of  the  human  intellect  have  been  brought  to  bear  against 
the  system  of  Christianity,  and  a demonstration  of  its 
impregnability  has  thus  been  wrought,  such  as  only  in- 
fidels could  work  out ; the  Canaanites  and  Jebusites  of 
Christianity,  pressed  into  its  service  as  hewers  of  wood, 
and  drawers  of  water,  even  in  the  exercise  of  their 
uttermost  malignity  ; a thing  that  could  not  be,  except 
under  the  full  light  of  Christianity,  and  yet  during  its 
partial  prevalence.  It  is  only  under  its  full  light  that 
the  intellect  of  infidels  is  disciplined  to  the  utmost 
ingenuity,  and  only  under  its  partial  prevalence,  that 
the  ingenuity  thus  disciplined  by  it,  can  be  directed 
against  it.- God  gives  his  enemies  the  choice  of  weapons, 
and  lets  them  sharpen  their  swords  on  his  own  grind- 


22 


stones,  and  figlit  by  bis  own  light,  just  to  show  how  im- 
potent is  their  malignity,  how  vain  and  futile  the  strug- 
gles of  infidelity  against  Divine  truth.  If  men  wdll 
undertake  such  exj)eriments,  if  generation  after  genera- 
tion of  philosophic  fools  and  madmen  will  thus  employ 
themselves,  God  knows  how  to  use  their  folly  and  mad- 
ness for  his  own  glory.  Habitually,  he  causes  the  wrath 
of  man  to  praise  him,  and  restrains  the  remainder  of 
wi’ath.  He  uses  this  world  as  a vast  laboratory  for  ex- 
periments in  morals,  that  by  themselves  would  be  too 
costly ; but  if  a race  of  rebels  will  pursue  them,  God 
can  afibrd,  and  will  bestow,  ample  time.  The  results  of 
the  experiments  are  laid  up  for  eternity.  They  are 
globes  of  light,  struck  by  the  conflicts  of  sin  itself  out 
of  darkness. 

The  demonstration  of  the  guilt  and  ruin  of  mankind 
under  any  and  all  circumstances  in  which  our  race  can 
be  placed,  apart  from  the  Gospel,  and  without  the 
grace  of  Christ,  is  a demonstration  of  the  experience 
now  of  six  thousand  years,  during  w'hich  the  Pendulum 
of  Divine  Providence  has  carried  our  race  through  all 
the  zones  of  time  and  02:>portunity,  circumstance,  influ- 
ence, climate,  education,  forms  of  government,  forms  of 
false  religion,  infidelity,  and  error,  forms  of  social,  po- 
litical, economical,  commercial,  and  scientific  experiment; 
and  all  have  failed.  As  the  Pendulum  has  swung  our 
globe,  with  its  grand  majestic  motion,  through  ages  of 
such  experiment  on  the  part  of  its  emj)lres  and  inhabit- 
ants, from  one  extreme  to  another,  it  has  become  a 
.settled,  manifested  fact,  even  if  it  were  not  known  or 
acknowledged  before,  that  nowhere,  under  no  possible 


23 


condition  of  society,  could  a sinful  world  remain  other- 
wise than  sinful,  Avithout  the  cross  of  Christ,  or  otherwise 
than  miserable  while  remaining  sinful.  There  is  no 
other  name,  nor  thing,  nor  invention,  nor  experiment 
under  heaven,  AA'hereby  we  can  be  sa\'ed,  but  only  by 
the  sufferings,  death,  and  Divine  regenerating  grace  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Every  calm  and  leisurely,  as 
Avell  as  convulsive  and  despairing  effort  of  an  intelligent 
but  depraved  humanity,  for  a redemption  from  its  de- 
praAuty,  or  e\’en  a mitigation  thereof,  or  a temporal 
salvation  from  misery,  and  enjoyment  of  hajApiness  in 
sin,  has  failed,  and  will  go  on  failing,  though  all  the 
scientific  re-constructors  of  society  from  Cape  Horn  to 
Kamschatka,  and  from  Austral  Asia  to  Siberia,  were  to 
sit  in  conclave,  and  try  their  panaceas  AAuth  the  widest 
scope,  and  most  uninterrupted  appliance,  from  genera- 
tion to  generation.  There  is  nothing  that  can  perma- 
nently bless  the  nations,  or  save  mankind  either  from 
temporal  or  eternal  wretchedness,  but  the  Gospel.  If 
this  experiment  has  not  been  fully  and  fairly  made, 
God  Avill  still  give  time  for  it ; for  if  mankind  are 
resolved  upon  it,  if  men’s  deadly  unbelief  in  the 
Gospel,  and  in  their  need  of  it,  them  desperate  lost 
condition  without  it,  is  resolved  still  to  choose  first, 
instead  of  the  Gospel,  or  before  trying  that,  some  other 
yet  unheard-of  but  hoped-for  universal  medicine  for 
human  woe,  either  in  poetry  or  philosophy,  or  neiv 
elementary  combinations  of  society,  God  can  wait ; for 
one  day  is  wdth  the  Lord  as  a thousand  years,  and  a 
thousand  years  are  as  one  day.  But  because  of  the 
fulness  and  freedom  and  universality  of  these  vain  ex- 


24 


periments  from  form  to  form,  and  epoch,  to  epoch,  in 
human  civilization,  we  have  reason  to  believe  tliat  man- 
kind have  nearly  run  them  through,  and  that  in  this 
respect,  as  in  others,  the  fulness  of  time  for  the  spread 
and  power  of  the  Gospel  has  now  come.  The  whole 
world,  like  an  individual  case  of  disease  and  misery, 
having  spent  all  its  living  on  its  own  physicians,  nor 
ever  grown  better,  but  rather  Avorse,  shall  now,  despair- 
ing of  a cure  in  any  other  way,  have  opportunity  to 
touch  the  hem  of  Christ’s  garment,  and  so  be  made 
whole. 

One  of  the  latest  forms  of  experiment  to  bless  and 
save  the  world  without  the  Gospel  is  that  which  in 
England  has  assumed  the  shape,  and  is  characterized 
by  the  name,  of  SECULARisjr,  meaning  a complete  divorce 
of  education  from  Christianity,  and  asserting  that  if  the 
State  will  but  educate  its  children  in  a knowledge  of 
natural  history  and  law,  and  of  the  relation  of  body 
and  mind  to  the  world  Ave  noAV  inhabit,  Avithout  any 
reference  to  the  world  for  Avhich  Ave  are  destined,  and 
the  God  to  Avhom  we  are  accountable,  the  State  will 
thus  secure  its  own  perpetuity  and  happiness.  The 
monster  of  Sectarianism  Avill  be  cast  out,  the  j)assions 
of  men  will  be  subdued,  children  will  be  taught  to  think 
and  feel  and  act  like  natural  beings,  and  there  will  re- 
sult from  a universal  education  so  serene  and  practical, 
and  free  from  theological  odium,  a happily-developed 
nature,  and  a perfect  reconstruction  and  regeneration  of 
the  social  edifice.  An  effective  and  thorough  divorce 
of  common-school  education  from  Christianity  is  to  be 
the  effective,  irresistible  cure  of  all  the  evils  of  society ; 


25 


the  universality  of  education,  and  not  its  trutli  and 
goodness,  beinsr  conceived  and  asserted  as  the  Saviour 
of  mankind.  To  this  end,  the  Bible  must  be  expelled 
from  the  schools,  the  Lord’s  Prayer  itself  rejected,  with 
the* ban  of  being  “ritualistic  and  not  educational,  and 
not  for  improvement  either  in  sacred  or  secular  learn- 
ing,” and  the  fundamental  truths  of  Christianity  must 
be  exorcised,  because  they  are  offensive  to  some,  and 
might  therefore  prevent  the  blessing  of  that  united  and 
universal  education,  which,  if  Jesus  Christ  and  his  re- 
velation will  but  retire  from  the  scene,  shall  without 
difficulty  regenerate  the  world.  Into  this  scheme  a 
few  even  of  the  friends  of  religion  have  been  strangely 
drawn ; but  in  England  and  Scotland,  the  sophistry  of 
a man  like  Cobden  can  not  prevail  to  give  it  sanction, 
and  no  effort  can  commend  it  to  the  intuitive  discern- 
ment, good  sense,  piety,  and  previous  educational  habits 
of  the  people.  On  the  other  hand,  men  like  Chalmers, 
Candlish,  Guthrie,  and  Duff,  have  shown,  with  iiTesistible 
power  of  logic  and  religion,  its  essentially  infidel  cha- 
racter and  tendency.  And  it  is  a good  sign  that  the 
British  Parliament  have  disavowed  this  doctrine  of 
divorce,  and  framed  a new  educational  bill  for  Scot- 
land, with  the  freedom  of  the  Bible  and  of  religious 
instruction  as  essential  and  perpetual  fixtures  in  the  . 
system.  The  divorce  between  education  and  religion 
is  pronounced  oppressive  and  inadmissible. 

The  powers  of  an  earthly  refinement  and  civilization 
are  dead  powers ; they  can  but  gild  the  sepulchres  of 
the  soul ; their  inventions  are  no  better  than  food  laid 
in  a coffin  by  the  wild  and  pagan  superstition,  that 


26 


tliinks  to  sustain  tlie  wandering  spirit  by  animal  ali- 
ments in  its  dreary  journey  through,  an  untried  world. 
So  the  food  of  earthly  sciences  crumbles  to  the  dust ; it 
can  neither  enliven  the  soul,  nor  the  soul  vivify  it,  but 
they  die  beside  each  other. 

But  now  these  disastrous,  despairing,  proud,  and  unbe- 
lieving experiments,  and  these  demonstrations  of  the 
power  and  dominion  of  sin  and  Satan,  we  may  hope, 
are  at  a close ; for  the  folds  of  Christ’s  garment  begin 
to  sweep  over  the  nations,  and  they  may  not  only  touch 
the  hem,  but  are  beginning  everywhere,  and  almost 
simultaneously,  to  be  taught  and  invited  to  him  as  their 
only  and  Divine  Physician.  And  all  things  seem  to 
converge  upon  this  present  time.  Vast  predictions,  both 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  that  have  long  been 
known  as  having  their  spaces  of  thousand  years  or  more 
to  run  through,  before  the  beginning  of  their  fulfillment 
could  be  looked  for,  culminate  in  the  bosom  of  this  cen- 
tury. Their  determination,  their  point  of  consummation 
and  of  glory,  falls,  so  far  as  a general  concurrence  of  the 
wisest  and  best  of  the  students  of  prophecy  in  this  and 
past  ages  of  the  Church  can  ascertain,  by  the  comparison 
of  dates,  and  passages  in  God’s  word,  with  history, 
})rovidence,  dates,  and  signs  on  earth,  somewhere  near 
the  period  of  time  in  which  we  ourselves  are  living. 
This  is  a great  point. 

Connected  with  this  is  the  time  of  awakening  and  of 
organization  among  the  churches  of  Christ  for  that 
missionary  work,  without  which  the  fulfillment  of 
prophecy  would  be  impossible.  This  period  has  its  com- 
mencement within  the  limits  of  this  present  century. 


There  were  isolated  awakenings  here  and  there,  and  con- 
ceptions and  utterances  of  ^Missionary  Societies,  as  of 
men  talking  in  their  sleep  before  the  dawn,  or  as  the 
Avatch-words  of  sentinels  before  the  army  rouses ; but 
there  was  no  plan,  no  organization  of  the  Lord’s  fol- 
lowera  for  the  execution  of  a plan,  no  awakening  nor 
union  of  the  churches.  The  first  missionary  flame  that 
began  to  burn,  after  the  Keformation,  AA'as  in  the  hearts 
of  our  Pilgrim  Fathers ; and  the  first  missionary  experi- 
ment, after  the  Church  of  Christ  had  gained  leisure 
from  her  conflicts  with  the  Man  of  Sin  and  Son  of  Per- 
dition, to  try  one,  was  in  this  then  heathen  continent ; 
and  the  first  successful  Christian  mission  then  in  all  the 
world,  was  that  of  the  Apostle  Elliot  among  the  Indians. 
The  heavenly  spirit  and  wonderful  success  of  Elliot 
awakened  a missionary  impulse  in  the  soul  of  Baxter, 
and  in  some  of  the  churches  of  Europe,  as  early  as  1680 ; 
but  it  was  not  till  more  than  a century  after,  not  till 
mankind  were  treading  on  the  very  verge  of  this  nine- 
teenth century,  this  century  of  prophecy  and  of  mis- 
sions, that  any  permanent  Foreign  Missionary  organiza- 
tion was  accomplished.  The  whole  excitement  of 
missionary  zeal,  activity  of  thought,  and  variety  and 
harmony  of  organization  and  of  effort,  marking  this 
present  century  so  conspicuously,  is  concentrated,  as  to 
the  period  of  its  commencement,  into  the  space  between 
the  formation  of  the  Engbsh  Baptist  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  in  1792,  and  the  establishment  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  ^Missions,  in  the 
year  1810.  Within  a period  of  eighteen  years,  and 
within  ten  years  after  the  commencement  of  this  j^resent 


28 


century,  all  those  grand  Missionary  Societies  were 
organized,  .that  within  forty  years  have  extended  theii' 
efforts,  and,  by  God’s  grace,  been  crowned  with  trium- 
phant success,  over  almost  the  whole  habitable  world. 

Now,  this  is  a remarkable  fact.  You  must  combine 
with  it  the  consideration  that,  at  that  period,  there  were 
neither  Bible  Societies,  nor  Tract  Societies,  nor  Educa- 
tion Societies,  nor  indeed,  any  of  the  mighty  and  effective 
auxiliary  institutions  and  organizations  which  God  has 
since  brought  into  being  and  operation,  in  developing, 
directing,  and  sustaining  the  energies  of  his  Church  in 
the  work  to  which  he  was  arousing  her.  All  these  kin- 
dred instrumentalities  have  been  formed  and  put  in 
action  almost  at  the  same  time.  Such  a phenomenon 
has  never  before  been  witnessed  in  the  history  of  the 
w^rld.  It  is  as  if  all  the  parts  of  a great  building,  all 
the  beams  and  rafters,  had  been  prepared  over  night, 
and  then  raised  into  one  palace  in  the  morning.  It  is  a 
vast  frame-work  and  involution  of  machinery,  the 
separate  pieces  of  which  had  not  been  dreamed  of ; but 
God  has  suddenly  created  and  connected  them,  and  now 
some  six  millions  of  dollars  are  annually  raised  to  sup- 
port them,  and  keep  them  in  operation,  where  fifty  years 
ago  not  one  cent  was  so  expended. 

But,  again,  we  are  to  consider  that  the  period  of  these 
organizations  and  instrumentalities  is  also  remarkably 
simultaneous  with  the  pressure,  variety,  and  directness 
of  God’s  Providence,  in  preparing  the  world  to  be  acted 
upon  by  them.  The  time  of  breatliing  the  breath  of 
missionary  zeal  into  the  churches,  and  the  time  of  creat- 
ing organizations  and  instrumentalities,  as  organs  and 


29 


agents  of  tluit  spirit,  ami  tlie  time  of  Avide,  vast,  active 
pre])aratioii  of  the  world  for  such  a movement,  is  one 
and  the  same,  all  within  the  first  half  of  this  century. 
God  opens  the  field,  creates  the  plough,  puts  it  iuto  the 
hand  that  is  to  guide  it,  and  gives  a spirit  for  the  Avork, 
at  one  and  the  same  moment.  Steam-engines,  steam- 
boats, railroads,  and  telegraphs  electiic,  are  inventions 
consentaneous  Avith  the  missionary  zeal  and  organization 
of  God’s  churches  for  the  world’s  evangelization.  A 
voice  is  heard  from  heaven — Go  through,  go  through 
the  gates,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  people  ; ciist  up, 
cast  up,  the  highway ; gather  out  the  stones ; lift  up  a 
standard  for  the  people  ! And  lo  ! the  Avhole  energies 
of  the  world  seem  suddenly  all  turned  into  these  A-arious 
operations,  as  the  elementary  particles  in  a crystallizing 
fluid  dart  toAvards  the  quick-attracting  nucleus  let  down 
into  the  centre.  An  array  of  inventions  and  discoveries 
breaks  upon  the  Avorld,  bringing  its  most  distant  regions 
into  easy  access  and  neighborhood,  giving  simultaneous- 
ness and  universality  to  new  and  poAverful  imjAulses 
of  thought  and  feeling.  Vast  commercial  routes  are 
created  and  travelled  across  deserts  and  oceans.  Power- 
ful magnets  of  attraction  are  uncovered,  and  set  in  active 
influence,  moAung  whole  nations.  IMauy  run  to  and  fro 
and  knoAA'ledge  is  increased,  and  all  the  motives  and 
energies  of  an  advanciug  chdlization  and  rivalry  among 
the  nations  are  hoisted  as  sails,  and  made  to  blow  as 
Avinds,  for  the  advancement  of  God’s  purposes.  The 
intrigues  of  political  diplomacy,  the  efforts  of  ambition, 
and  the  horrors  and  iniquities  of  war  itself,  are  turned 
by  him  directly  to  the  forwarding  of  his  own  great 
plans. 


30 


But  along  with  this  preparation  of  the  world,  this 
levelling  of  the  mountains,  and  filling  up  of  the  valleys, 
and  this  girdling  of  the  world  physically  and  morally 
with  trains  of  communication  and  of  impulse,  there  is 
also  an  unfolding  of  great  gateways,  an  opening  of 
passes  hitherto  inaccessible,  and  a reduction  of  the  world 
from  the  position  of  a jealous,  besieged  city  in  a time 
of  war,  to  the  openness  of  a highway  in  the  time  of 
peace.  All  this  has  come  about  within  this  last  half 
century.  At  the  opening  of  it,  no  man  would  have 
dreamed  of  such  changes.  And  when  the  fijrst  five  mis- 
sionaries of  the  American  Board,  Kott,  Hall,  Rice,  Jud- 
son,  and  Newell,  went  out  to  India,  they  were  like  the 
first  dove  sent  out  by  Noah,  and  almost  literally  had  to 
be  taken  in  again  at  the  window.  But  God  even  then 
was  working  before  them  and  for  them.  He  had  per- 
mitted the  government  of  a large  part  of  India  to  pass 
into  the  hands  of  a Protestant  and  Christian  nation,  and 
now  through  the  bold,  loud,  determined  knocking  of  his 
own  missionaries  at  that  nation’s  door,  and  at  the  heart 
and  conscience  of  the  man  at  that  time  invested  with 
the  authority  of  governor,  the  gates  were  opened,  and 
a free  entrance  gained  for  the  establishment  of  the 
Gospel.  At  first,  it  seemed  as  if  the  gates  of  hell  would 
conquer.  The  government  of  England  itself  had  issued 
peremptory  orders  to  the  governor  at  Bombay,  to  send 
away  the  missionaries  on  the  instant  from  that  country 
to  England  ; and  nothing  but  their  own  Christian  bold- 
ness and  faithfulness,  under  God,  prevented  this  step 
from  being  taken,  this  outrage,  we  ought  rather  to  say, 
from  being  committed.  Tlie  missionaries  in  question, 


31 


Messrs.  Gordon,  Hall,  and  Samuel  Nott,  addressed  an 
.energetic  and  fervent  remonstrance  to  tlie  governor 
liimself,  as  a man  and  a Christian,  which  for  eloquence 
and  fiiithfulness  could  hardly  be  exceeded.  A short 
extract  from  this  communication  will  show  its  tenor  and 
its  spirit,  and  the  bold  and  noble  position  for  Christ 
Jesus  by  them  maintained ; 

“ Your  Excellency  has  been  pleased  to  say  that  it  is  your  duty  to  send 
us  to  England,  because  you  have  received  ^wsitive  orders  from  the 
supreme  government  to  do  so.  But,  right  honorable  sir,  is  not  this 
advancing  a principle,  which,  if  correct,  would  reprieve  from  the  long-* 
recorded  decision  of  Heaven  all  the  sanguinary  persecutors  who  executed 
the  horrid  decrees  of  Herod,  Nero,  and  Trajan,  who  made  themselves 
drunk  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jesus,  and  who,  as  God  has 
declared,  shall  have  blood  to  drink,  for  they  are  worthy  ? These  perse- 
cutore  destroyed  the  saints  of  the  Most  High ; they  were  positively 
ordered  to  do  so  by  superior  authority ; but  for  doing  so,  have  they  not 
been  sentenced  to  eternal  death  ? But  were  they  not  perfectly  innocent, 
if  your  Excellency  reasons  correctly  in  saying  that  it  is  your  duty  to  send 
us  away,  because  you  are  ordered  to  do  so  by  superior  authority  ? The 
persecutors  of  the  saints  might  have  reasoned  in  the  same  way,  and  said 
that  it  was  their  duty  to  destroy  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  because  they 
were  ordered  to  do  so  by  superior  authority.  Your  Excellency  knows 
perfectly  well  that  whenever  human  commands  run  counter  to  divine 
commands,  they  cease  to  be  obligatory ; and  that  no  man  can  aid  in  the 
execution  or  support  of  such  counter  commands,  without  aiming  violence 
at  the  authority  of  heaven.  Can  your  Excellency,  or  any  other  man, 
deny  the  truth  of  this  ?” 

Sucb  was  tbe  noble  missionary  spirit  and  boldness  of 
these  faithful  servants  of  Jesus  Christ.  Their  powerful 
appeal  to  conscience  and  God’s  word,  as  above  all 
human  authority,  was  laid  before  the  governor  and 
council,  and  as  no  man  in  those  days  could  deny  the 


32 


truth  of  it,  they  were  immediately  informed  that  they 
might  remain  in  India. 

A little  later  than  this,  the  Island  World  of  the  Pa- 
cific was  opened  to  the  missionaries,  and  prepared  for 
the  entrance  of  the  Gospel,  by  providences  still  more 
remarkable,  but  of  a piece  -with  the  whole  wonderful 
dealings  of  God’s  prorfdence  and  grace,  in  the  regene- 
ration and  civilization  of  the  Sandwich  Islands.  In  like 
manner,  door  after  door  has  been  opened,  gate  after  gate 
unlocked,  gulf  after  gulf  has  been  bridged,  moat  after 
moat  has  been  filled  up,  in  various  regions  of  the  heathen 
world,  till  there  is  not  a kingdom  or  tribe  on  earth,  ex- 
cept perhaps  the  principality  of  Japan,  and  the  region 
of  the  temporal  and  spiritual  despotism  of  the  Pope, 
but  has  been  rendered  perfectly  accessible.  And  what 
is  still  more,  the  principles  of  toleration  and  protection 
have  been  recognized,  as  well  as  the  right  to  preach 
the  Gospel,  and  freedom  in  attending  it,  and  joining  its 
churches,  in  quarters  and  to  an  extent  most  unexpected ; 
so  that  the  nature  of  the  true'  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  so 
difficult  to  learn,  has  apparently  been  understood,  and 
at  any  rate  is  defended,  even  by  the  Turks. 

Now,  all  these  things  coming  together,  indicate  a vast 
plan,  no  less  than  the  prophetic  delineations  demonstrate 
it.  And  they  indicate,  moreover,  all  crowded  as  they 
are  into  one  half  century,  that  the  fulness  of  time  has 
come  for  the  wide  and  rapid  fulfillment  of  God’s  pro- 
mises. But  we  are  not  left  to  these  indications  alone, 
for  a basis  of  our  calculations  as  to  what  God  may  be 
about  to  accomplish.  If  we  see  a plan  manifestly  deve- 
loped in  the  Divine  providence,  that  is  grand  and  glori- 


33 


ous ; l)ut  to  see  God  manifestly  and  rapidly  advancing 
to  its  execution,  that  is  more  glorious  still.  And  this  we 
do  see ; for  this  century,  though  but  half  advanced,  is  al- 
ready filled  with  the  wonders  of  God’s  grace  as  merci- 
fully, as  abundantly,  as  ^'isibly,  as  it  is  with  the  wonders 
of  his  providence.  If  there  were  nothing  but  the  creation 
of  a Christian  Empire  out  of  the  abandoned  and  degraded 
• Islands  of  the  Pacific,  nothing  but  that  vast  twenty 
years’  event  of  God’s  jwovidence  and  grace,  the  change 
of  a nation  of  the  most  besotted  and  brutalized  savages 
into  absolutely  and  truly  the  most  Christian  nation  on 
the  face  of  the  globe ; for  such,  by  actual  gauge  of  indi- 
vidual and  national  ])iety  to  God,  the  Sandwich  Islands 
liave  become,  there  being  by  far  a greater  number  of 
personal  experimental  Christians  in  that  nation,  in  com- 
})arison  with  the  population,  than  in  any  other  country 
in  the  world ; if  that  were  all,  that  alone  would  make 
this  century  as  more  extraordinary  than  any  other  since 
the  deaths  of  Paul  and  John.  Never,  since  the  days  of 
Pentecost,  has  there  been  so  mighty,  quick,  complete, 
and  marvellous  a transformation. 

But  now,  taking  the  same  Sandwich  Islands,  if  yon 
please,  as  a centre  and  starting-point,  you  may  go  all  over 
the  world,  and  find  approximations  to  just  such  changes, 
just  such  glorious  triumphs.  You  find  that  whereas  ten 
years  before  the  beginning  of  this  century,  there  was 
not  one  missionary  station  on  the  face  of  this  whole- 
"lobe,  save  onlv  those  which  our  Pilgrim  Fathers  and 
their  children  began  among  the  Indians,  and  those  of  the 
Moravians  in  Greenland,  in  South  Africa,  and  some 
other  places,  there  are  now  more  than  a thousand  Chi’ist- 
3 


34 


iaii  churclies  gathered  on  heathen  ground,  or,  on  an 
average,  more  than  twenty,  yea  nearer  forty,  for  every 
year  since  the  commencement  of  the  enterprises  of  the 
American  Board,  and  more  than  two  thousand  Christian 
missionaries,  or  forty  a year  for  every  year  since  the 
commencement  of  the  century,  beside  great  numbers  of 
native  preacliers  and  helpers.  And  whereas  there  was 
not  one  printing-press  in  existence  in  the  whole  heathen 
world,  there  are  now  numbers  of  presses  pouring  forth 
their  publications  in  a vast  variety  of  dialects.  And 
whereas  there  was  not  a single  Bible  Society,  nor  per- 
haps more  than  four  million  copies  of  the  Scriptures  in 
existence,  some  forty  or  fifty  million  copies  have  been 
issued  since  the  Bible  Society  was  organized.  And 
whereas  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a Christian  school 
in  any  heathen  nation  upon  earth,  there  are  now  vast 
numbers  of  such  schools,  and  even  the  power  of  caste  in 
India  is  yielding  to  their  influence. 

Furthermore,  the  stations  which  God  has  selected  ai-e 
such,  the  citadels  which  he  has  occupied  are  so  conspi- 
cuous in  importance  and  of  so  great  command  in  con- 
nection with  vast  ranges  of  country,  and  of  neighboring 
kingdoms,  and  he  has  at  length  thrown  such  a chain  of 
these  posts  around  the  globe,  that  we  may  justly  con- 
clude that  a mighty  conquest  is  intended ; the  purpose 
of  a permanent  possession  is  manifestly  indicated.  And 
all  these  indications  and  convergencies  of  Divine  ]'>rovi- 
dcnce  in  regard  to  the  great  plan  unfolded  in  prophecy, 
are  greatly  strengthened  and  rendered  more  emphatic, 
by  what  God  has  been  doing  in  the  same  period,  and 
is  still  doing,  in  regard  to  seamen.  The  sea-prophecie.s 


35 


are  also  meeting  tlieir  counterpart  in  ocean-providences, 
preparations,  and  triumphs  of  grace.  All  that  is  now 
done  for  seamen  has  been  done  suddenly;  all  the  Sea- 
men’s Friend  Societies,  all  the  Bethel  ships  and  chapels, 
all  the  missionary  stations  for  seamen  that  stud  the 
coasts  and  harbors  here  and  there,  have  been  estaldished 
and  put  in  operation  during  about  thirty  years  of  this 
lialf  century.  But  the  seamen  and  the  ships  are  God’s 
carriei*s,  that  fly  as  the  clouds,  and  as  doves  to  their 
windows,  to  bring  his  sons  from  afar,  their  silver  and 
their  gold  with  them.  God  is  beginning  to  make  mis- 
sionaries of  seamen,  and  floating  churches  out  of  fleets. 
The  activity,  enterjirise,  and  power  of  commerce  are 
applied  by  Divine  providence  to  facilitate  the^  great 
work  of  preparation  for  the  world’s  evangelization.  If 
commerce  is  brought  of  God  to  favor  missions,  the 
benefits  conferred  by  missions  upon  commerce  are  still 
the  greatest.  When  the  Sandwich-Island  mission  was 
first  started,  a wheelwright  in  Massachusetts  was  called 
upon  to  contribute,  and  was  told  that  his  proportion 
would  be  a dollar.  This  he  paid,  but  with  the  feeling 
that  his  dollar  was  thrown  away.  Three  or  four 
years  ago,  this  very  man  received  an  order  from  the 
Sandwich  Islands  for  twenty  carts,  at  ninety  dollars 
a piece,  or  eighteen  hundred  dollars,  an  incidental  result 
of  the  vast  temporal  prosperity  and  progress  which  the 
mission  is  accomplishing.  East,  W est,  North,  and  South, 
the  commercial  spirit  of  the  world,  and  the  under- 
takings both  of  companies  and  individuals,  are  daily 
interlocking  kingdoms  more  and  more,  and  bringing 
them  nearer,  and  giving  more  unimpeded  scope  to  the 


36 


play  of  religious  trutli  and  moral  influence.  It  is 
probable  that  soon  there  will  be  railroads  from  the 
Black,  the  Caspian,  and  the  Mediterranean  Seas  to  the 
Persian  Gulf,  so  that  Europe  will  be  bro^ht  to  the 
doors  of  India,  and  the  kingdoms  of  Persia,  Turkey, 
Arabia,  and  Hindustan  will  be  wonderfully  netted 
together,  and  at  the  same  time  made  a centre  of  influ- 
euce  greater  than  ever  in  the  heart  of  the  Eastern 
Hemisphere.  In  the  light  of  these  considerations,  we 
are  to  view  the  remarkable  fact  of  God  making  choice 
of  Hindustan,  Persia,  and  Turkey,  as  the  localities  of  such 
clusters  of  missionary  citadels  as  are  to  be  found  no- 
where else  in  the  world ; and  also  these  regions  are  the 
scenes  of  wonderful  operations  of  Divine  grace.  On 
the  map  we  perceive  Hindustan  in  the  centre  of  Asia, 
witli  a population  of  140  millions;  and  the  missionary 
stations  or  churches,  one  after  another  planted  here 
witliin  some  forty  years,  begin  to  be  counted  by  hun- 
dreds. On  one  side  are  the  Turkish,  Persian,  and  Ara- 
bian empires,  with  some  ten  or  twelve  millions  each, 
and  on  the  other  the  Chinese  empire,  with  its  326 
millions  of  idolators.  On  the  north,  Russia  in  Asia 
comprehends  some  ten  millions;  and  east  and  south, 
Japan  some  fourteen  millions;  and  the  various  clusters 
of  the  Asian  Island  world  some  fifteen  millions  more. 
Now  liere,  among  all  these  vast  fields  of  Mohammedans, 
Hindoos,  and  Cliinese  idolab>rs,  more  than  thirty  various 
evangelical  missionary  societies  are  at  work. 

And  what  mind,  some  half-dozen  years  ago,  could 
possibly  have  anticipated  tlie  wondrous  changes  now 
taking  place  in  China?  Tliat  an  insurgent  movement 


37 


should  liave  arisen  in  that  populous  bee-hive  of  hu- 
manity, so  based  upon,  or  mingled  with,  the  possession, 
knowledge,  and  freedom  of  God’s  word,  that  along  with 
its  progress  there  should  be  four  hundred  men  con- 
stantly employed  in  printing  and  circulating  that  word, 
the  copies  so  prepared  and  circulated  bearing  on  their 
front  the  red  stamp,  “PniJcrED  by  Coji^iaxd  of  the 
EstPEPvOu,”  is  a thing  to  make  men  pause,  and  ponder, 
and  admire,  and  feel  as  if  a spiritual  movement  w'ere  in 
progress  by  the  power  of  God’s  w'ord,  analogous  to  an 
earthquake ; a movement  that  must  be  attended  with 
revolutioTis  sudden  and  vast,  so  that,  though  in  a mer- 
ciful way,  the  description  of  the  Messiah  taking  the 
throne  over  the  nations,  will  be  literally  fulfilled, — lie 
shall  break  them  in  pieces  like  a potter’s  vessel. 

Then,  again,  what  wonderful  changes,  and  prepara- 
tions for  changes,  in  the  empire  of  IMohammedanism ! 
Twenty-five  years  ago,  nothing  was  knowm  in  Turkey  of 
a true  Protestant  evangelical  Christianity ; but  at  this 
day,  in  more  than  fifty  towns  and  villages,  there  are 
Protestant  evangelical  assemblies  for  divine  worship 
every  Sabbath;  there  are  not  less  than  sixty-five  preach- 
ers of  a pure  Gospel;  and  in  Constantinople  and  its 
suburbs,  there  are  twenty-six  Protestant  gosj^el  sermons 
preached  every  Sabbath  in  dififerent  languages.  There 
are  nineteen  evangelical  clergymen  steadily  laboring, 
where,  no  longer  ago  than  1830,  there  was  not  one;  and 
there  are  not  less  than  fourteen  Protestant  Christian 
schools  established  in  the  same  city  and  population, 
where  in  1830  there  was  no  such  thing  known.  This  ad- 
vance is  great ; the  numerical  array  is  something  impos- 


38 


ing ; but  tbe  real  advance  is  greater  by  far  than  tbe  mere 
numbers  indicate.  And  nowhere  is  tbe  leaven  more 
surely  leavening  tbe  lump.  All  tbe  empire  of  Turkey 
itself  might  as  suddenly  be  found  on  the  side  of  an 
evangelical  Gospel  as  tbe  kingdom  of  tbe  Sandwich 
Islands,  without  tbe  change  being  so  remarkable.  In 
reference  to  tbe  present  imminent  war,  tbe  counsels 
and  providence  of  God  have  been  beforehand,  even  to 
human  observation,  preventing  tbe  diplomacy  and  force 
of  nations.  God  has  silently  and  gradually  established 
bis  citadels,  bis  store-houses,  bis  points  of  possession  and 
of  conquest,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  he  may 
make  this  war  more  directly  subserve  tbe  advancement 
of  bis  kingdom,  and  tbe  pulling  dowm  of  tbe  strong- 
holds of  Satan,  than  be  has  done  any  war  since  Ves- 
pasian and  Titus  carried  the  Roman  eagle  against  tbe 
Jews. 

We  can  not  but  remark  the  providence  of  God  in  the 
sbai:)e  and  spirit  of  theology  jissumed  in  New-England, 
where  tbe  enterprise  of  the  American  Board  first 
started,  and  tbe  theological  training  of  mmisters  and 
missionaries  there.  In  tbe  early  simplicity  and  godly 
sincerity  of  that  course  in  tlie  word  of  God  and  pi’ayer, 
may  be  found  a cause  for  tbe  palpable  practical  supe- 
riority and  success  of  tbe  missionaries  of  tbe  Amei’ican 
Board,  to  such  a degree  tliat  they  can  not  be  rivalled 
by  any  others  anj'^wbere  sent  forth  in  modern  times  to 
establish  tbe  Gospel.  Out  of  tbe  New-Englaud  school 
of  tlieology,  tlie  school  of  Edwards,  not  spoiled  by  ifiii- 
losoi)by  and  vain  speculation,  but  fresh  fi’om  tlie  simjile, 
prayerful  study  of  tbe  living  Scriptures  of  God,  have 


39 


these  men  come ; rude  and  unpromislug  to  the  seeming 
of  a worldly  miiul,  in  origin  and  appearance,  hut  rich 
and  powerful  with  a native  original  theology  hy  the 
spirit  of  God,  and  with  hearts  on  fire ; these  men,  hy 
whom  God  has  created  anew  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and 
is  now  Christianizing  the  oriental  world.  It  is  a living 
theology,  a revival  theology,  from  the  simple  word  of 
God  that  has  done  this,  the  theology  of  the  fifty-first 
Psalm. 

Again : the  providence  of  God  is  to  he  marked  in  the 
manner  in  which  he  has  guided  our  missionaries,  and 
those  of  some  other  Boards,  in  the  wisdom  of  their  i)lans 
of  educational  discipline  among  the  nations.  Common 
schools  have  heen  established,  with  the  Bihle  and 
religious  instruction  in  them.  The  nation  is  saved,  where 
there  are  these  permanent  fixtures.  In  addition  to  the 
striking  remark  made  in  a recent  report  of  the  schools 
in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  that  the  success  of  those  schools, 
and  their  regenerating  power  upon  the  kingdom,  is 
mainly  owing  to  the  fact,  that  the  simple  word  of  God 
was  long,  and  of  necessity,  the  only  reading  hook,  let 
us  note,  as  an  example  of  wisdom  and  success  in  almost 
an  antipodean  part  of  the  world,  the  latest  report  of  the 
Educational  Missionary  Seminary,  at  Aheih,  in  Syria. 
After  speaking  of  the  happy  influences  of  science, 
thoroughly  taught,  upon  the  minds  of  the  youth,  the 
missionaries  say : 

“ But  our  great  aim  has  been  to  have  them  well  grounded  in  the 
Scriptures.  And  here  also  we  pursue  a systematic  course.  The  first 
school-hour  of  each  day  is  devoted  to  the  Bible.  Beginning  at  Genesis, 
our  plan  is  to  complete  the  whole  in  four  years.  AVe  look  carefully  at 


40 


chronology,  biography,  and  history ; assign,  as  far  as  possible,  their  proper 
times  and  places  to  the  Prophets ; endeavor  to  ascertain  the  meaning  of 
the  Jewish  ritual,  and  show  how  this  and  the  prophecies  all  point  to  the 
great  Deliverer.  We  pursue  an  equally  thorough  coui-se  with  the  New 
Testament.  In  a word,  we  aim  t6  give  as  complete  and  systematic  a 
knowledge  of  the  sacred  volume,  as  a whole  and  in  its  parts,  as  we  are 
able.  Nor  in  this  department  do  we  feel  that  we  have  labored  in  vain. 
Apart  even  from  the  direct  religious  influence  of  this  course,  we  are 
decidedly  of  opinion  that  more,  vastly  more,  has  been  done  in  this  way 
to  awaken  intellect,  and  foster  a spirit  of  inquiry,  and  give  expansion  and 
vigor  to  the  mind,  than  by  all  our  other  studies  combined.  In  this  close 
attention  to  the  Bible  we  find,  too,  the  surest  means  of  eradicating  from 
the  minds  of  our  pupils  their  manifold  superstitious  opinions,  and  of 
awakening  within  them  the  conviction  that  ecclesiastical  authority,  in 
which  they  have  been  taught  to  repose  an  unlimited  confidence,  is  a 
baseless  fabric.” 

Now,  it  is  true  that  all  tliese  various  and  mighty  pro- 
vidential preparations  are  nothing  without  a divine,  all- 
conquering  Spirit  working  in  and  with  them.  But  the 
climax  of  all  blessings,  and  the  brightest  of  all  indica- 
tions, is  the  manifest  presence  of  that  Spirit,  so  that 
every  missionary  station,  or  church,  or  band  of  laborers 
with  the  Gospel  is  as  leaven,  hid  in  three  measures  of 
meal,  of  no  comparison  indeed,  as  to  quantity,  as  to  size, 
as  to  space  occupied,  with  the  hugeness  of  the  material 
to  be  penetrated  and  subdued ; but  yet,  of  such  omni- 
potent, all-permeating  power,  that  the  whole  may,  if 
God  pleases,  be  speedily  leavened.  God  seems  to  be 
preparing  for  a great  and  effective  outpouring  of  his 
spirit,  before  which  every  thing  of  opposing  power  shall 
at  length  give  way.  In  a gi-eat  river,  during  a long 
winter,  the  ice  becomes  so  deep  and  solid,  that  it  seems 
as  if  it  never  could  be  either  melted  or  broken  up.  The 


41 


winter  and  spring  thaws  pass,  and  the  ordinary  rains 
fall,  but  still  the  ice  seems  as  thick  and  immovable  as 
ever.  But  experienced  judges  will  tell  you  that  every 
thaw  and  every  rain  has  helped  to  rot  and  weaken  it. 
And  now  comes  a great  rain  perhaps  of  two  or  three 
days’  duration,  and  in  one  night  the  vast  covering  of 
ice  that  but  the  day  before  seemed  as  if  it  could  still 
bear  up  a city,  is  burst  up  and  broken  "with  the  noise  of 
thunder,  and  between  the  rising  and  the  setting  sun,  the 
stream  is  free.  Just  so,  God  is  all  the  while  weakening 
and  rottinsr  the  fabrics  and  institutions  of  heathen 

O 

superstition,  caste,  and  idolatry,  the  cold,  solid  crust  of 
Satanic  habit  and  despotism ; and,  at  length,  when  the 
great  rain  of  his  Spirit  comes,  these  things  may  give 
• way,  and  be  broken  up,  and  carried  out  to  sea,  wdth  a 
suddenness  that  shall  seem  a miracle,  and  yet  by  causes 
that  God  had  long  been  setting  in  motion,  to  produce 
that  mighty  result. 

Now,  then,  what  are  we  to  conclude  as  to  the  prospect 
in  the  half  century  on  which  we  are  just  entered,  from 
all  that  God  has  done  in  the  half  century  through  which 
we  are  just  passed?  Judging  only  from  the  things 
accomplished  in  the  last  fifty  years,  what  may  we  not 
suppose  will  be  accomplished  in  the  next  fifty  years  ? 
Certainly  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  fulness  of 
God’s  time  has  come.  And  reasoning  only  as  the  human 
mind  may  reason,  in  regard  to  probabilities,  even  leav- 
ing out  of  view  the  spiritual  element,  there  are  some 
great  things  of  power  set  in  motion  that  can  not  stop, 
but  will  inevitably  go  forward,  dragging  other  things 
with  them.  And  the  horoscope  of  the  future  is  glorious. 


42 


reasoning  from  tlie  past,  and  admitting  even  only  tlie 
same  ratio  of  progress.  The  year  1900  will  be  a year 
of  glory  and  prosperity  such  as  the  world  has  never 
seen,  if  a progress  is  continued  in  the  arts  and  sciences, 
in  discovery  and  inventions,  in  morals  and  religion, 
accordant  only  with  that  made  between  the  year  1800 
• and  1850. 

But  we  cast  ourselves  wholly  upon  God ; we  do  not 
rely  upon  such  progress,  except  through  his  grace,  and  our 
faitlifulness  to  him ; for  the  voice  of  the  promise  is  good- 
ness, if  thou  • continue  in  his  goodness,  otherwise  thou 
also  shalt  be  cut  off.  We  rely  upon  God’s  grace;  and 
tliat  given,^  we  say  that  already  God  has  made  the  world 
so  ripe  and  ready  for  the  baptism  of  liis  Spirit,  tliat  even 
a pei'iod  so  near  as  the  year  1900  may  witness  tlie* 
world’s  advancement  into  the  brightness  of  the  Mil- 
lennial Day.  And  fifty  more  years,  or  the  middle  of  the 
next  century,  in  all  likelihood,  will  witness  the  entire 
overthrow  and  downfall  of  the  paj)al  power,  the 
]\Iohammedan  power,  and  also  the  entire  regeneration 
of  the  Greek  Church.  The  same  period  may  witness 
the  subversion  of  idolatry  and  caste  in  India,  and  of 
the  idolatrous  superstitions  of  China,  and  of  the  physi- 
cal and  spiritual  demon  despotisms  of  Africa.  The 
conflict  between  the  native  races  in  China  may  yet 
bring  a great  part  of  the  kingdom  under  the  power  of 
a Protestant  government ; and  England,  before  step])ing 
down  from  her  position  as  the  foremost  country  on  the 
earth,  may  yet  have  her  responsibilities  increased  to  the 
temporary  ruling  of  moi’e  than  half  the  inhabitants  of 
our  globe.  Meanwhile  her  vast  Australian  possessions 


43 


will  become  a Cliristian  Republic,  and  may  perliaps  be 
filled,  by  tlie  power  of  the  magnet  which  the  providence 
of  God  has  there  set  at  work  as  in  California,  with  an 
intelligent  and  active  population,  more  rapidly  than  ever 
yet  any  portion  even  of  our  own  country  was  won  from 
the  Avilderness.  In  these  movements  of  the  world,  and 
in  such  a horoscope  of  the  future,  there  is  as  much  ex- 
citement as  there  is  encoui-agenient ; and  while  there  are 
gi’eat  apparent  dangers,  all  things  are  full  of  hope,  if 
the  people  of  God  do  but  give  themselves  in  faith,  love, 
and  prayer,  to  the  great  work  before  them.  The  lines 
of  prophecy  are  converging,  and  the  trains  of  God’s 
providence  are  growing  nearer  and  more  crowded, 
dee])ening  to  a great  centre,  and  indicating  some  mighty 
consummation.  God  is  coming  to  use  nations  like  in- 
dividuals, for  the  fulfillment  of  his  plans ; indeed,  he  has 
always  done  this,  though  never  in  so  marked  a manner 
as  in  the  changes  of  the  modern  world. 

O 

It  is  not  amons:  the  least  of  the  signs  of  the  times 
that  in  our  day  the  very  science  of  geography  has  been 
permeated  with  a missionary  significance,  and  that 
God’s  great  plan  has  been  traced  between  the  con- 
figuration of  our  globe,  and  the  march  of  civilization 
and  of  empii’e,  developing  the  moral  capabilities  and 
responsibilities  of  nations,  and  especially  of  our  own. 
In  the  great  Avork  of  Arnold  Guyot,  we  see  the  hand 
of  God,  on  the  very  map  of  the  -world,  with  its  physio- 
logical history,  as  plainly  marking  out  our  missionary 
destiny,  as  his  providence  is  manifest  in  loading  us  with 
responsibilities,  and  giving  us  the  power  to  meet  them. 
If  we  imagine  that  God  has  given  to  our  country  its 


44 


unparalleled  advantages,  and  raised  us  to  a lieiglit  of 
freedom  and  power  unrivalled  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  only  that  our  merchants  may  become  princes, 
and  treat  us  to  Sabbath-breaking  railroads,  we  are 
terribly  mistaken.  God  has  given  us  this  prosperity, 
not  for  ourselves,  but  to  be  imparted  to  the  Avorld.  lie 
has  prepared  us  in  this  mighty  Avay,  on  this  gigantic 
scale,  not  for  our  own  commercial  interests,  but  to  do 
good  by  us,  to  carry  on  his  glorious  plan  of  the  Avorld’s 
regeneration. 

Now,  there  are  just  three  things  that  are  essential  to 
our  active  religious  power  over  the  nations,  and  our 
continued  missionary  success;  the  Spirit,  the  Word, 
and  the  Sabbath.  The  first  is  the  life,  the  second  the 
medium,  the  third  the  fixture ; and  of  this  sacred  trinity 
of  influence,  expression,  and  institution,  by  which  this 
world  is  bound  to  God,  every  one  of  these  possessions 
is  equally  essential.  The  Sabbath  may  be  called  our 
galvanic  battery,  bearing  in  its^frame  and  arrangement 
the  Word  and  the  Spirit,  the  Sj^irit  through  the  Word. 
Wherever  the  Sabbath  goes  down,  or  is  neglected,  or 
over-ridden  by  the  interests  of  this  world,  our  ])ower, 
the  power  of  salvation,  goes  down  with  it.  Tlie  re- 
generation of  nations  is  the  Avork  of  the  Christian  Sab- 
bath, permanent,  immutable.  Tlie  Sabbath  is  the  only 
heart  of  life  and  health  continued.  Our  OAvn  discijdine, 
under  God’s  providence,  included  150  years’  intense 
action  of  this  energetic,  central,  vivifying,  permeating 
life,  before  God  made  us  a nation.  And  that  Avhich, 
more  than  any  other  causes,  taught  us  the  theory  {ind 
the  practice  of  liberty,  and  gave  us  the  heart  and  mind 


45 


to  sustain  it,  was  tlie  possession  of  the  Christian  Sah- 
batli,  in  its  primitive  sacrediiess  and  purity  and  power. 

There  must  be  a deeper  piety,  not  the  spirit  of  expe- 
diency, nor  tlie  compromise  between  God  and  mammon, 
but  the  sj)irit  of  love  and  of  power,  and  of  a sound 
mind.  All  our  mighty  Avorks  of  preparation,  and 
movements  of  success,  thus  fiir,  instead  of  making  it 
possible  for  a less  degree  of  faith  and  fervor  to  do  the 
work  that  remains,  only  increase  our  responsibilities, 
and  necessitate  a still  purer  and  deeper  zeal.  A A*ast 
battery  is  ready,  but  the  cups  are  innumerable ; if  they 
are  all  tilled,  then  the  immense  array  Avill  act;  not 
otherwise.  The  heart  can  give  only  Avhat  it  possesses. 
If  it  be  the  letter,  it  may  give  the  letter ; if  the  s])irit, 
tlie  spirit.  If  a church  and  a form  be  the  object,  a 
church  and  a form  may  be  accomplished;  but  the 
water  there,  will  rise  no  higlrer  than  the  fountain  here  ; 
and  the  establislmnent  of  a formal  church  would  only 
be  the  infliction  of  a Christian  sore  on  the  body  of 
heathenism.  Yet  this  is  a renewed  and  increasing 
tendency  of  our  age.  “Are  you  not  grieved,”  said  one 
Christian  friend  to  another,  from  whom  a once  beloA^ed 
and  venerated  pastor  had  been  removed  to  another 
diocese,  “are  you  not  grieA'ed  to  lose  so  excellent  a 
minister  ?”  “ Oh  ! the  exchange  is  much  better,”  was 

the  answer ; “ Mr.  A.  did  indeed  love  souls,  and  sought 
to  bring  them  to  Christ,  and  made  good  Christians^  but 
]\Ir.  B.  makes  good  churchmen^  and  we  never  felt  the 
importance  of  that  till  now.”  A snare  of  the  great  ad- 
versary and  a tendency  of  the  age,  is  here  developed. 
But  if  churchmanship  be  the  beginning,  it  will  be  the 


46 


end ; and  neitlier  at  the  beginning  nor  the  end  can  tlie 
soul  know  much  of  Ghrist  and  him  crucified.  A recent 
English  writer  has  argued  that  without  an  Establish- 
ment it  is  impossible  for  the  utmost  energy  of  the 
voluntary  system  ever  to  reach  the  masses.  The  his- 
tory of  the  American  Board  in  its  wonderful  successes 
in  the  space  of  forty  years,  in  comparison  Avith  the  zeal 
of  an  Establishment  for  more  than  three  centuries,  is 
answer  enough  to  such  an  assumption.  Indeed,  you 
know  the  fixtures  of  an  Establishment,  and  can  gauge  its 
[)OAver;  but  the  power  of  an  impulsive  deep  piety,  the 
power  of  the  spirit  of  God,  you  can  not  measure.  The 
argument  is  as  untenable  as  an  old  accustomed  higliway 
route  at  a railroad  crossing.  Look  out  Avhen  the  bell 
rings ! 

TJien  again,  the  piety  of  giving  is  yet  to  be  developed, 
to  meet  emergencies  and  demands  on  the  present  gigantic 
scale  of  God’s  providence.  Christian  merchants  must 
learn  to  live  only  for  him,  in  their  business  of  money- 
making, as  Avholly  and  faitlifully  as  they  demand  and 
expect  that  the  missionaries,  Avlioni  they  are  called  to 
support,  should  live  only  for  God.  Why  should  the 
missionary  in  his  steAvardship  for  Clirist  be  called  and 
expected  to  give  his  time,  his  life,  his  lal)ors,  in  preach- 
ing the  Gospel,  satisfied  Avith  an  adequate  support  in 
and  for  his  Avork,  any  more  than  the  Christian  merchant 
Aw,  in  the  same  stcAvardship,  but  in  a different  Avay? 
'fhe  Christian  merchant  is  as  sacredly  bound  to  ])nrsue 
his  business  for  Christ,  gain  Avealth  for  Christ,  and  give 
it  habitually  to  Christ,  as  the  Christian  missionary  is 
bound  to  lay  his  business,  his  life,  upon  the  altar  of 


47 


Christ’s  love.  Nor  can  tlie  missionary  work  go  on,  un- 
til tliis  share  of  the  hurden  and  heat  of  the  day  is  Lome 
Ly  our  Christian  merchants.  Why  the  talents  of  tlie 
Christian  uynister  should  be  considered  as  sacredly  de- 
voted to  God,  and  not  the  wealth  of  the  Christian 
merchant,  it  passes  any  man’s  ability  to  give  a reason. 
Did  the  I.ord  Jesus  ever  give  a dispensation  to  any  one 
class  of  his  disciples  to  live  unto  themselves,  to  lay  up 
treasure  for  themselves,  while  another  class  were  to  do 
the  sacrifice  and  the  self-denial  for  the  easy  and  luxuri- 
ous livers  by  proxy  ? What  a monstrous  idea ! And 
yet,  does  not  something  like  this  feeling  prevail,  or  if 
not  the  feeling,  does  not  the  habit  and  reality  border 
on  such  a practice  ? 

Now,  if  just  even  a tenth  were  devoted  to  God,  if 
that  rule  of  benevolence  were  sacredly  complied  with 
by  our  Christian  merchants,  God  would  have  enough  and 
to  spare  for  missionary  purposes.  But  the  rule  of  the 
Gospel  is  just  none  other  than  this,  as  God  hath 
PROSPERED  YOU.  Now,  when  we  hear  of  a Christian 
merchant  laying  up  perhaps  a hundred  thousand  dollars 
a year,  and  giving  five  or  ten  thousand,  one  can  not  help 
asking.  Is  this  according  as  God  hath  prospered  him  ? 
Might  he  not,  with  perfect  ease,  have  given  seventy-five 
thousand,  without  the  slightest  sacrifice,  the  least  dimi- 
nution of  his  comforts,  his  luxuries,  and  with  an  amaz- 
ing addition  to  his  piety,  his  growth  in  grace,  his  own 
happiness.?  And  then,  the  usefulness  of  such  a course  ! 
Oh ! when  we  think  of  the  incomparable  spiritual  worth 
of  money  at  this  day  of  the  world’s  advancing  and  pos- 


48 


sibly  immediate  redemption,  how  much  good  can  be 
done  with  it,  what  rapid  and  mighty  agencies  for  eternal 
blessedness  to  millions  set  in  motion  and  sustained  by 
it,  then  the  profession  of  a true  Christian  merchant, 
who  labors  to  gain  money  for  Christ,  just  as  the  mis- 
sionary preaches  for  him,  rises  in  dignity  and  glory,  till 
it  seems  hardly  inferior  even  to  the  Gospel  ministry ! 
Truly,  when  our  Christian  merchants,  with  their  com- 
mercial enterprises  and  their  capital,  shall  look  as 
directly  to  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer’s  king- 
dom as  our  missionaries,  it  will  be  a development  of 
pious  and  benevolent  energy  as  yet  untried.  And  the 
Spirit  of  God  may  speedily  bring  the  Christian  com- 
munity even  to  that. 

Spiritually,  our  capital  is  in  the  Word — the  Word 
by  the  Spirit  and  by  j3rayer ; and  we  have  to  see  to 
that  it  be  not  locked  up  and  unavailable.  We 
may  hold  its  riches  in  the  letter,  and  yet  be  bankrupt 
in  the  spirit;  this  is  one  of  our  dangers,  even  in  our 
])rogres3.  We  Avant  quickening  in  the  fire  and  power 
of  God’s  word.  We  want  it  permeating  the  very  bones 
and  marroAV  of  our  being,  as  God’s  word.  We  want  it 
in  such  overmastering  and  up-bearing  power  Avithin  us, 
that  on  the  Avings  of  a “ thus  saitli  the  TjorcV''  we  can 
dart  as  an  eagle  in  the  face  of  enemies,  yea,  as  lightning 
from  the  clouds.  We  need  to  strike  SAvift  and  strong 
blows  Avitli  the  SAvord  of  the  Spirit;  but  no  man  can 
do  this  Avho  has  not  learned  from  the  Spirit,  that  the 
Word  is  the  Word  of  God,  or  Avhose  sword-arm  is 
])aralyzed  by  the  chloroform  of  foreign  critical  skej)ti- 


49 


cism,  or  who  suffers  his  pliilology,  pliilosophy,  and 
science  to  overlay  and  suffocate  his  faith  and  life. 

Now,  may  God  be  merciful  unto  us,  and  bless  us,  and 
cause  his  face  to  shine  upon  us ; that  thy  way  may  be 
known  upon  earth,  thy  saving  health  among  all  nations. 
Amen. 


4 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  ANNUAL  REPORT 


OF  TnE 

NEW-YORK  AND  BROOKLYN  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  ASSOCIATION. 


Axotuee  year  in  the  history  of  this  Society  has  passed,  and  we  are  called  upon 
to  review  its  progress,  and  gird  up  the  loins  of  our  minds  to  meet  the  very  solemn 
responsibilities  which  the  future  will  impose  upon  us.  The  Association,  whose 
twenty-seventh  anniversary  we  to-night  celebrate,  holds  a prominent  and  very 
important  place  among  kindred  agencies  in  our  country.  Tire  spirit,  the  enterprise, 
the  piety,  tlie  wealth,  of  the  churches  united  in  this  Society,  are  unequalled  in  the 
land.  Xo  other  place  of  the  same  extent  combines  so  many  advantages  for  the 
cultivation  and  continual  increase  of  the  missionary  spirit,  as  the  cities  of  New-Tork 
and  Brooklyn.  This  statement  must  commend  itself  to  every  one  who  is  at  all 
acquainted  with  the  number,  the  contiguity,  and  the  Christian  and  ecclesiastical 
fellowship  of  the  churches  here  represented ; and  it  is  needless  to  enlarge  upon  it. 
As  greatly  as  we  surpass  all  other  places  in  our  advantages,  so  greatly  should  we 
surpass  them  in  the  manifestation  of  that  benevolence,  which,  under  God,  is  the 
strength  and  hope  of  the  missionary  cause.  May  each  succeeding  year  prove  to 
the  churches  throughout  the  land,  that  we  appreciate  the  peculiar  position  we 
occupy ; and  may  they  be  encouraged,  by  our  example,  to  emulate  us  in  devotion 
to  him  who  is  their  and  our  common  Lord  and  Master. 

The  Treasurer’s  report,  just  read,  shows  the  amount  of  contributions  from  the 
churches  during  the  year,  which  compares  favorably  with  that  of  the  preceding ; 
and  the  usual  monthly  meetings  of  the  Society  have  been  as  well  attended  and 
sustained  as  ever  before.  Regret,  however,  has  been  expressed  that  the  pastors  of 
the  churches  have  not  availed  themselves  more  generally  of  the  advantages  which 
these  meetings  afford,  for  giving  increased  interest  to  the  concert  of  prayer  on  the 
evening  of  the  first  Monday  of  each  month.  It  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  each 
church  should  be  represented  at  this  service,  either  by  the  pastor,  or  by  some  one 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  who  may  thus  secure  the  most  recent  intelligence  from 
the  various  missions. 

The  year  has  been  one  of  unusual  interest  and  promise,  throughout  the  missionary 
world.  In  China,  India,  and  Eastern  Asia,  where  the  operations  of  the  American 
Board  are  veiy  extensive,  God  has  interposed  marvellously  in  his  providence. 


making  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,  and  filling  the  hearts  of  his  people  in 
those  lands  with  high  hopes  for  the  future.  As  it  does  not  fall  within  the  province 
of  this  report  to  enter  into  details  respecting  particular  missions,  we  know  not 
how  better  to  enlist  the  hearts,  and  confirm  the  faith,  of  our  churches  in  tliis 
hallowed  cause,  than  to  present  some  of  the  encouragements  which  the  word  of 
God  affords  to  us,  in  the  present  solemn,  and,  to  many  minds,  alarming  posture  of 
the  missionary  enterprise.  "We  are  not  of  those  who  look  with  disquietude  upon 
the  dark  and  portentous  cloud  which  now  overhangs  Europe  and  Asia.  We 
remember  that  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  we  rejoice.  We  call  to  mind  the  fact,  that 
the  Eedeemer  of  the  world  is  its  sovereign,  and  that  he  administers  the  affairs  of 
mankind  with  exclusive  and  direct  reference  to  the  advantage  and  glory  of  his 
Church.  We  can  not  avoid  the  conviction,  that  the  blessed  purposes  of  divine 
grace  are  ripening  very  fast.  We  believe  that  God’s  providence,  which  extends 
to  the  mightiest  as  truly  and  as  efficiently  as  to  the  minutest  objects  and  events, 
is  wholly  and  always  subservient  to  the  merciful  plans  of  his  love  for  Zion ; so  that 
“all  things”  work  together  for  her  good.  Never  before  in  the  world’s  history, 
have  the  unfoldings  of  God’s  scheme  for  his  glory  in  our  world,  been  so  rapid,  so 
various,  so  wondrous,  so  manifestly  adapted  to  promote  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  as 
during  the  present  century.  Every  one  who  reflects  at  all  on  the  subject,  must 
feel  that  God  is  about  to  do  some  great  thing  for  his  Church. 

There  is  a diversity  of  views  in  regard  to  tho  manner  in  wliich  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  is  to  be  extended  and  established  in  the  world ; and  there  are  those  who 
suppose  that  the  Gospel  will  attain  its  end  in  a quiet  and  tranquil  way,  as  tho 
leaven  penetrates  and  changes  the  meal  in  which  it  is  hid.  But,  if  we  look  into 
history,  wo  shall  discover  other  elements  at  work  in  securing  this  result.  It  is 
true,  that  the  Gospel  accomplishes  its  proper,  its  legitimate  object,  in  renewing  and 
sanctifying  tho  nature  of  man ; but  such  are  Tho  conditions  and  circumstances  of 
our  world,  that,  in  order  to  this,  other  elements  of  power  must  bo  brought  into 
operation. 

Tho  Bible  most  explicitly  teaches,  that  the  kingdom  of  Clirist  is  to  secure  its 
supremacy  in  tho  world,  not  simply  by  tho  prayers,  efforts,  and  sacrifices  of 
Cliristians,  in  erecting  churches  and  schools,  and  institutions  of  art  and  science — in 
diffusing  Bibles  and  tracts,  and  a sanctified  literature ; not  simply  by  tho  divine 
blessing  upon  a preached  Gospel,  but,  also,  by  tho  outpouring  of  a spirit  of  divine 
wrath  upon  tho  idolatrous,  infidel,  and  apostate  kingdoms  of  tho  earth.  The  Church 
has  no  carnal  weapons,  with  which  to  attack  her  foes.  She  can  overcome  tho 
powers  of  evil  only  by  tho  blood  of  tho  Lamb,  and  tho  word  of  her  testimony,  and  by 
not  counting  her  life  dear  unto  herself.  Christ’s  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world,  else 
would  his  servants  fight.  But,  while  the  Church  is  restricted  to  a spiritual  warfare, 
God  is  by  no  means  confined  to  tho  same.  All  tho  forces  of  nature,  all  tho  kings 
and  armies  of  tho  earth,  all  tho  social  and  material  and  political  resources  of  tho 
uatioms,  are  at  his  disposal;  and  by  them,  in  one  way  or  another,  ho  carries  forward 
and  accomplishes  his  designs  of  mercy  for  tho  Church,  lie  has  tho  wrongs  of  Zion 
to  avenge,  upon  tho  nations  who  have  oppressed  her.  lie  has  judgments  to  visit 


53 


upon  the  rebellious  people  who  have  not  submitted  themselves  to  the  sway  of  his 
Son.  The  day  of  vengeance  and  recompense  must  come ; and  by  no  means  does 
God  so  powerfully  prepare  his  way  for  the  establishment  of  his  kingdom,  as  by  his 
desolating  judgments  upon  the  guilty  nations.  Most  instructive  are  the  teachings 
of  the  Bible  history  and  prophec)’’  on  this  point.  The  overthrow  of  the  Babylonish 
empire  by  Cyrus,  who  established  the  Persian  on  its  ruins ; the  overthrow  of  the 
Persian  by  Alexander,  who  established  the  Grecian  in  its  stead;  and  tlio  overthrow 
of  the  Grecian  by  the  Roman,  tlie  mightiest  of  them  all, — were  ordained  and 
accomplislied  by  God,  in  order  to  the  advent  of  Zion’s  King,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
into  the  world.  These  are  the  series  of  events  that  God  speaks  of  by  Haggai : 
“Thus  s;iith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Yet  once,  it  is  a little  while,  and  I wUl  shako  the 
heavens,  and  the  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  dry  land ; and  I will  sliako  all  nations, 
and  the  desire  of  Ml  nations  shall  come."  To  the  same  series  of  events  does  God 
refer,  when,  in  Ezekiel,  he  says:  “I  will  overturn,  and  overturn,  and  overturn  it.” 
To  these  does  Daniel  refer,  when  he  says  of  Christ’s  kingdom,  “ It  shall  break  in 
pieces  and  consume  all  these  kingdoms.”  “ Zion,”  it  has  been  well  said,*  “ hath 
been  the  rise  and  downfall  of  all  the  powers  of  the  world.  It  is  her  deliverance,  or 
her  trial,  that  is  intended  in  their  raising ; and  _hcr  reeompensc  and  vengeance  in 
their  ruin.  God  works  not  among  the  nations  for  their  own  sakes.  'When  they 
are  sifted  with  a sieve  they  are  but  the  chaflf ; Israel  is  tlie  com  for  whose  sake  it 
is  done,  whereof  not  the  least  grain  shall  fall  to  the  ground.  She  is  precious  in 
God’s  sight,  and  honorable ; ho  loves  her ; therefore  ho  giveth  men  for  her,  and 
people  for  her  life.”  The  kingdom  of  Clu^t  is  the  only  one,  of  all  the  kingdoms  of 
the  earth,  that  can  not  be  shaken  or  removed.  It  is  the  kingdom  “ which  the  God 
of  heaven  hath  set  up,  which  shall  never  be  destroyed;”  a kingdom,  which, 
belonging  “ to  the  saints  of  ^the  Most  High,  shall  never  be  left  to  other  people ; 
but  it  shall  break  in  pieces  and  consume  many  kingdoms,  and  it  shall  stand  for 
ever.”  So  that  all  tlie  revolutions  of  the  nations  serve  only  to  settle  more  firmly 
the  foundations,  and  augment  the  strength  and  greatness,  of  the  Church.  Often 
she  seems  pressed  nearly  to  her  overthrow ; but  always,  when  the  enemy  cometh 
in  like  a flood,  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  lifteth  up  a standard  against  him.  The 
Church  is  like  Joseph,  of  whom  his  father  said,  “ The  archers  have  sorely  grieved 
liim,  and  shot  at  him,  and  hated  him ; but  his  bow  abode  in  strength,  and  the  arms 
of  his  hands  were  made  strong'  by  the  hands  of  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob.”  Every 
instance  of  shaking  among  the  nations  is  an  advance  made  by  the  Church.  Every 
victory  gained,  on  whatever  battle-field,  is  a victory  for  the  Church.  Hers  are  the 
spoils  of  war ; hers  the  monuments  and  trophies  of  royal  triumpha  AH  the  blood 
that  has  been  spOt,  aU  the  treasure  that  has  been  expended,  aU  the  nations  and 
empires  that  have  been  wasted,  have  been  for  the  glory  of  Zion.  How  many 
mighty  kingdoms  have  passed  away!  Assyria,  and  Egypt,  and  Persia,  Greece, 
and  Carthage,  and  Rome,  have  perished ; yet  the  Church  remains.  They  perished 
for  this  very  end, — in  the  words  of  the  Apostle  Paul, — the  removing  of  the  things 
that  are  shaken  is  in  order  that  the  things  that  can  not  be  shaken,  the  kingdom 


♦ John  Owen. 


54 


tliat  can  not  be  moved,  may  remain.  In  olden  times,  Glod  gave  Egypt,  and  Bashan, 
und  Heslibon,  and  all  the  nations  of  Canaan,  Ethiopia  and  Seba,  Babylon  and 
Nineveh,  for  his  Church ; and  Zion  is  no  less  precious  to  him  now.  It  would  not 
be  strange  if;  in  these  days,  he  should  give  Turkey  and  Russia,  Austria,  Italy,  India, 
and  Cliina,  for  her  advancement  and  glory.  The  day  of  her  triumph  is  hastening. 
The  overtumings  and  removals  of  tribes,  nations,  and  empires;  the  battles  and 
sieges;  the  long  wars  and  desolating  invasions,  during  six  thousand  years,  have 
not  been  to  no  purpose.  These  are  the  groanings  and  travailing  together  in  pain 
of  the  whole  earth,  in  order  to  the  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God. 

Moreover,  the  Bible  teaches  us,  that  as  the  day  of  Zion’s  ascendency  and  glory 
approaches,  civil  commotions  will  increase.  God’s  judgments  in  the  earth  wiU  be 
more  and  more  abundant.  He  will  turn,  and  overturn,  and  overturn,  till  He  whose 
right  it  is  shall  reign  king  over  all.  He  will  pour  out  the  vials  of  his  wTath  upon 
the  nations.  He  will  whet  his  glittering  sword,  and  his  hand  take  hold  on 
vengeance.  He  wiU  raise  up  captains  and  armies,  who  will  be  his  scourge,  the 
besom  of  destruction  for  the  nations.  The  day  of  the  Church’s  glory  is  the  day  of 
God’s  recompense  upon  her  enemies.  The  emancipation  and  triumph  of  the  Church 
is  to  be  secured  by  the  destruction,  or  by  the  conversion,  of  them  that  hated  and 
oppressed  her.  The  princes  of  the  world  must  submit  themselves  to  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  or  be  subdued  under  it.  Now  they  oppose  it ; the  kings  of  the  earth  set 
themselves,  and  the  rulers  take  counsel  together  against  the  Lord,  and  against  his 
Anointed.  And  what  a fore-shadowing  of  coming  conflicts  does  that  word  of  the 
prophet  give  us ; “ The  nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not  serve  Zion  shaU  perish ; 
yea,  those  nations  shaU  be  utterly  wasted  I”  And  this:  ‘‘Behold,  the  Lord  wiU 
come  with  fire,  and  with  his  chariots,  like  a whirlwind,  to  render  his  anger  with 
fury,  and  his  rebuke  with  flames  of  fire.  For  by  fire  and  by  his  sword  will  the 
Lord  plead  with  all  flesh;  and  the  slain  of  the  Lord  shall  be  many."  And  again: 

‘ I will  shake  the  heavens  and  the  earth,-  and  I wiU  overturn  the  throne  of 
kingdoms,  and  I wOl  destroy  the  strength  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  heathen,  (Gen- 
tiles;) and  I will  overthrow  the  chariots  and  those  that  ride  in  them,  and  the 
horses  and  their  riders  shall  come  down,  every  one  by  the  sword  of  his  brother." 

Such  are  some  of  the  foretold  antecedents  of  the  millennial  state  of  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  to  the  consummation  of  wliich  all  the  missionary  operations  of  the  present 
day  arc  directed.  Wherefore,  let  us  not  be  troubled  by  the  tumults  of  the  people, 
by  wars  and  rumors  of  wars,  by  the  overturnings  of  dynasties  and  tlironcs,  of  states 
and  empires.  These  are  but  the  shaking  of  the  nations  by  the  Almighty,  that  the 
kingdom  of  Chri.st  m.ay  bo  established.  This  can  not  bo  shaken ; this  can  not  be 
moved.  And  ohi  what  a kingdom  I how  stable,  und  glorious,  and  precious  to  God, 
l>ow  loved  and  honored  must  the  Church  be,  when  all  the  commotions,  and 
changes,  and  bloodshed,  and  proud  histoiy-  of  nations,  and  their  kings  and  con- 
querors, all  are  the  stepping-stones  of  the  Church  to  universal  empire ; for  she  shall 
reign  over  all.  The  kingdom  and  the  greatness  of  the  kingdom,  under  the  whole 
heaven,  shall  bo  given  to  the  saints  of  the  Most  High.  The  decrees  of  God  can 
not  be  changed.  He  will  pursue  his  own  methods,  and  none  shall  let  him.  We 


55 


will,  therefore,  indulge  no  vain  expectations  of  peace  among  the  nations.  Men 
talk  of  the  progress  of  art  and  science,  of  civilization  and  refinement.  They  dis- 
course about  the  development  of  humanity  and  of  history.  But  other  voices  reach 
us  from  the  sacred  oracle.  The  visions  of  prophecy  reveal  the  overtumings  and 
l>reaking  up  of  civil  institutions  and  ecclesiastical  powers ; the  dashing  in  pieces  of 
the  fabric  of  empires.  And  these  things  crowd  the  more  distant  scenes  on  tliat 
divinely-painted  canvas.  There  we  see  famines,  and  pestilences,  and  earthquakes 
in  divers  places.  The  whole  earth  seems  convulsed ; the  sun  is  darkened,  and  the 
moon  gives  not  her  light ; the  stars  fall  from  heaven,  and  the  powers  of  the  heavens 
are  shaken.  Upon  the  earth,  distress  of  nations,  with  perplexity ; the  sea  and  the 
waves  roaring.  And  as  the  dark  clouds  of  that  era  roll  away,  the  sign  of  the  Son  of 
Man  appears  in  heaven.  Not  until  this  time  be  fully  come,  will  the  Prince  of 
Peace  take  to  liimself  the  sceptre  of  tho  kings  of  the  earth,  and  reign  God  over  all, 
blessed  for  over.  Till  then,  nations  must  bo  disquieted.  France,  Austria,  Russia, 
Italy,  Turkey,  and  other  kingdoms,  must  bo  visited  for  their  tremendous  crimes 
against  the  kingdom  of  Christ ; for  if  God  has  visited  the  sin  and  unbelief  of  his 
own  people  so  severely  as  their  history  in  the  by-gone  centuries  shows  ho  has  done, 
surely  he  will  not  fail  to  pass  the  wine-cup  of  his  fury  among  the  nations  w'ho  have 
oppressed  and  enslaved  them ; and  they  must  drink  it.  If  ho  did  such  things  in  the 
green  tree,  (his  own  Church,)  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry?  Tho  gates  and  bars 
of  every  adverse  kingdom  must  bo  broken  down ; tho  deep  foundations  of  idolatry 
must  be  razed  and  destroyed;  tho  crushing  superstitions  of  a false  Christianity, 
underlying  and  sustaining  the  thrones  of  so  many  kingdoms,  must  be  demolished. 
All  rough  places  must  bo  made  smooth,  and  crooked  places  be  made  straight,  for 
the  spiritual,  millennial  advent  of  tho  Saviour. 

Have  wo  not  a right  to  expect  that,  after  tlie  tempest  of  civil  and  political  com- 
motion is  over-past ; • after  tho  dark  and  long-overhanging  cloud  of  divine  wrath 
shall  have  discharged  itself  upon  tho  guilty  nations,  the  Church  of  God  will  arifi 
and  shine,  will  put  on  her  beautiful  garments,  and  stand  forth  in  her  supernal 
might  and  glory,  clear  as  the  sun,  fair  as  the  moon,  and  terrible  as  an  army  with 
banners ; that  repentant  kings  will  be  her  nursing  fathers,  and  their  queens  her 
nursing  mothers ; that  nations  will  be  bom  to  her  in  a day ; and  so  the  world  be 
filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  ? 

THOMAS  H.  SKINNER,  Jb., 


CORRESPOXDIXO  SECRETARY. 


56 


THE  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  OP  NEW-YORK  AND  BROOKLYN 


In  account  current  with  their  Treasurer,  Almon  Mekwin. 

Dk 


Entered  in  my  account  at  sundry  times  with  H.  HUl,  ) 
Treasurer  of  the  A.B.C.F.M., J 


By  Cash,  from  the  following  sources : 

From  Alien-street  Presbyterian  Church, 

April  1,  Brick  “ “ 

1853,  Broadway  Tabernacle, 

ia  Central  Presbyterian  Church,  .... 

March  31,  Church  of  the  Puritans, 

1854.  Eastern  Congregational  Church, . . 

Eleventh  Presbyterian 
Fourteenth-st.  “ 

Fourth-avenue  “ 

Harlem  “ 

Houston-street  “ 

Mercer-street  “ 

Madison-square  “ 

Manhattan vUle  “ 

North  “ 

Presbyterian  Church  on  University  place, . 
Seventh  Presbyterian  Church, 

Si.xth-street  “ 

Spring-street  “ 

Thirtoenth-st.  “ 

West  “ 

West  23d-st.  “ 

Sundry  donations  in  Now-York  and  Brooklyn,. 


Bedford  Congregational  Church,  Brookljm, . 
Church  of  the  Pilgrims, 

Clinton-av.  Congregational  Church, 

First  Presbyterian 
Fulton-av.  Congregational 
Plymouth  “ 

South  Prcsbjd.crian 
Second  “ 

South  Congregational 
Third  Presbyterian 
William.sburgh  First  Prosbyterinu  Church,. 


$5 

110 

O 

1 CO  O 

$ 

Cr. 

$186  40 

941 

87 

278 

03 

392 

06 

2174 

73 

52 

94 

170 

08 

1519 

01 

935 

49 

81 

64 

76 

75 

6404 

93 

1126 

76 

17 

00 

72 

27 

500 

00 

306 

98 

50 

00 

159 

00 

222 

70 

502 

42 

103 

42 

1298 

38 

19 

59 

2267 

59 

215 

64 

1322 

99 

66 

25 

445 

00 

1033 

25 

446 

27 

28 

67 

215 

23 

63 

24 

115  78 
23,580  80 

$23,696  58 


17,572  86 


6,123  72 


E.  & 0.  E. 

New-Youk,  March  31,  1854. 
E-vamined  and  found  correct. 


$23,696  58 


A.  Mekwin,  Treasurer. 

Walter  S^Giuefith, 

Lewis  E.  Jackson,  J 


RECEIPTS  OP  THE  SOCIETY. 


Tub  following  statomont  exhibits  the  receipts  of  tho  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  Now-York  and  Brooklyn,  from  its  organization  in  1827  to  April,  1850; 


From  1827  to  April,  1836,  (nine  years,) $86,931  28 

For  tho  year  ending  April,  1837 19,068  72 

“ “ 1838, 11,195  53 

“ “ March,  1839, 12,433  07 

» “ April,  1840 10,131  33 

“ “ March,  1841 11,721  17 

“ " April,  1842, 15,937  73 

“ “ 1843, 10,432  42 

“ “ “ 1844, 14,018  10 

“ “ “ 1845, 11,974  88 

“ " “ 1846, 10,425  10 

“ “ March,  1847 9,867  59  , 

“ “ “ 1848, 11,834  70 

“ " April,  1849, 19,536  56 

“ ••  ^ 1850 14,217  58 


Total  in  23  yoHra, 


$269,725  76 


The  following  is  a view  of  legacies  paid  into  tho  treasury  of  tho  American  Board 
from  New- York  and  Brooklyn  since  tho  organization  of  this  Auxiliary: 


For  the  year  ending  March  31,  1834, 

“ “ “ 1836, 

“ “ “ 1838, 

“ “ “ 1839, 

“ “ “ 1840, 

“ “ “ 1842, 

“ “ “ 1843, 

“ “ “ 1844, 

‘‘  “ “ 1846, 

“ “ “ 1847, 

“ “ “ 1848, 

“ “ “ 1849, 


‘ 1850, 
‘ 1852, 
‘ 1853, 
‘ 1854, 


from  New-York, $964  60 

“ “ 250  00 

“ “ 1350  00 

“ “ 2865  00 

“ “ 5602  86 

“ Brooklj-n, 133  78 

“ “ 100  00 

“ •=  100  00 

“ New-York, 100  00 

“ Brooklyn, 500  00 

“ New-York, 3094  38 

..  j “ $1265  00...)  j 5 00 

(Brooklyn,  100  00...) 

“ New-York, 100  00 

“ “ 20  00 

“ 885  00 

“ “ 3264  00 


58 


RECEIPTS  FOR  THE  YEARS  1351, 1852, 1853, 1854. 


Year  ending 

Y'  ar  ending 

Year  ending 

Year  ending 

April  13, 

March  31, 

March  31, 

March  31, 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1864. 

AUen-street  Presb.  Church,  N.  T. 

$161  17 

$129  00 

$137 

07 

$186  40 

Bleecker-st.,  (4th  Av.,)  “ 

U 

896 

22 

875 

06 

781 

00 

935  49 

Brick  Presbyterian  “ 

ti 

666 

75 

933 

14 

911 

88 

941  87 

Broadway  Tabernacle  “ 

il 

265 

45 

258 

01 

284 

24 

278  03 

Central  Presbyterian  “ 

u 

903 

22 

687 

40 

1,016 

82 

392  06 

Ch.  of  the  Puritans,  (Cong.,) 

(( 

851 

66 

1,252 

27 

454 

60 

2,174  73 

Eastern  Congregational  Ch., 

u 

17 

67 

19 

09 

31 

57 

52  94 

Eleventh  Presb)i;erian  “ 

u 

78 

36 

88 

85 

109 

34 

■ 170  08 

Pourteonth-st.  “ “ 

(( 

469 

73 

997 

38 

1,519  01 

Harlem  “ “ 

31 

00 

76 

60 

53 

47 

81  64 

Houston-strect  “ “ 

u 

98 

55 

25 

50 

19 

50 

76  75 

Mercer-street  “ “ 

(C 

3,149 

95 

6,139 

11 

6,726 

86 

6,404  93 

Madison-square  “ “ 

u 

50 

00 

1,126  76 

Manhattanville  “ “ 

n 

6 

44 

17  00 

North 

(( 

19 

52 

30 

00 

72  27 

Presb.  Ch.  on  University  pi. 

n 

393 

00 

250 

00 

850 

00 

500  00 

Seventh  Presbyterian  Ch., 

u 

287 

18 

203 

77 

190 

53 

306  98 

Sixth-street  “ “ 

(( 

50  00 

Spring-street  “ “ 

n 

198 

27 

81 

76 

123 

17 

159  00 

Thirteenth-st  “ “ 

u 

65 

95 

38 

06 

39 

34 

222  70 

West 

n 

496 

20 

406 

60 

368 

59 

502  42 

West  23d-st. 

n 

25 

00 

102 

65 

103  42 

$8,570 

12 

$10,958  95 

$13,289  45 

$16,274  48 

Bedford  Cong.  Church,  Brooklyn. 

12 

44 

11 

39 

15 

10 

19  59 

Ch.  of  the  Pilgrims,  (Cong.,) 

ll 

1,655 

73 

2,065 

23 

2,420 

21 

2,267  59 

Clinton-av.  Cong.  Church, 

u 

27 

00 

40 

00 

351 

31 

215  64 

First  Presbyterian  “ 

ll 

751  45 

830  5S 

935 

87 

1,322  99 

Fulton-avenuo  Cong.  “ 

ll 

45 

00 

60 

00 

66  25 

Plymouth  “ “ 

ll 

493 

28 

452 

46 

303 

12 

445  00 

South  Presbyterian  “ 
Second  “ “ 

ll 

1,036 

12 

1,219 

32 

2,476 

94 

1,033  25 

u 

821 

18 

456 

28 

942 

18 

446  27 

South  Congregational  “ 

ll 

16 

62 

28  67 

Tlnrd  Presbyterian  “ 

ll 

100 

00 

138 

63 

111 

70 

215  23 

First  I’resb.  Ch.,  Williamsburgh, 

40 

OOj  68 

75 

72 

00 

63  24 

$1,937 

2oj  $5,327 

64 

$7,704  95 

$6,123  72 

Sundry  donations  in  New-Tork  ) 
and  Brooklyn, f 

$2,845 

1 

5Gj  $1,823 

23 

$1,917 

11 

$1,298  38 

Total, 

$16,352 

88l$18,109 

82 

$22,911 

61 

$23,696  68 

Kotc. — Of  the  $22,911.51  reported  for  tho  year  torminatjog-  March  31,  1853,  the 
pum  of  $6850  \va.s  a special  contribution  for  tho  debt  of  the  Board  in  1852. 


59 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS 

FOR  THE  YEAR  1854. 


PRESIDENT. 

DAVID  HOADLEY 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

ANSON  G.  PHELPS,  JOHN  RANKIN, 

CHARLES  J.  STEDMAN,  OLIVER  E.  IVOOD. 


CORRESPO.XDING  SECRETARY. 

Ret.  AUGUSTUS  A.  WOOD 

RECORDING  SECRETARY'. 

.YLMON  MERWIN. 


TREASURER. 
ALMON  MERWIN. 


DIRECTORS. 


Alleu-street  Presbyterian  Chtcrch,  .... 

Brick  “ “ 

Broadway  Tabernacle  “ .... 

Centred  Presbyterian  “ .... 

Church  of  the  Puritans,  .... 

Eastern,  Congregational  Church,  .... 

Eleventh  Presbyterian  “ .... 

Fourteenth-st.  “ “ .... 

Fourth-avenue  “ “ 

Harlem  “ “ 

Houston-street  “ “ 

Mercer-street  “ “ .... 

Madison-square  “ “ .... 

Manhattanville  “ “ .... 

North 

Presbyterian,  Church,  University  place 


John  P.  Praxl,  Joseph  W.  Lester. 
A.  L.  Ely,  C.  H.  Merry. 

W.  G.  West,  Israel  Minor. 

W.  P.  Cook,  Samuel  W.  Stebbins. 
Jas.  C.  Woodruff,  H.  0.  Pejneo. 
Stephen  Cutter,  Lewis  Chichester. 
Alex.  McNey,  J.  H.  Bulen. 

W.  E.  Dodge,  J.  F.  Joy. 

Alfred  Post,  Edward  Chester. 

E.  Ejitchum,  James  Rikee,  Jr. 

S.  Derrickson,  David  Stevens. 

W.  W.  Chester,  G.  Manning  Tract 

F.  Bull,  A.  0.  VanLennep. 

R.  C.  Andrews. 

0.  H.  Lee,  James  Reeve. 

W.  W.  Stone,  J.  K.  Myers. 


60 


Sevenili  Preabyierian  Church, 
Siocth-street  [“  “ 

Spring-slreei  “ “ 

TInrteenih-st.  “ “ 

West  “ “ 

West  2Zd-si.  “ “ 

Bedford  Cong.  Church,  Brooklyn, 
Olinton-av.  “ " “ 

Church  of  the  Pilgrims,  “ 

Elm-place  Cong.  Church,  “ 

First  Presh.  “ “ 

Plymouth  Cong.  “ “ 

Second  Presh.  “ “ 

Smih  “ “ “ 

Sosdh  Cong.  “ “ 

Third  Presh.  “ “ 

First  Presh.  Church,  Williamsburgh, 

First  Presb.  Church,  Hoboken, 


. Charles  Merrill,  H.  B.  Littell. 

. Frakcis  Duncan. 

. Joseph  S.  Holt,  "William  Dkmerest 
. John  C.  Hines,  Dan.  EInight. 

. Lewis  E.  Jackson,  Benj.  Salter. 

. Henry  D.  Crane,  Gordon  Burchard. 

. D.  0.  Caulkins,  Edward  T.  Goodall. 
. S.  Davenport,  James  "W.  Raynor 
. Sidney  S.  Sanderson,  D.  Johnson. 

. F.  W.  Burke,  Alfred  Smithers. 

. Alfred  Edwards,  Henry  Redfield. 
. J.  T.  Howard,  Arthur  Nicholr 
. Charles  Clarke,  Lucius  Hopkins. 

. "Walter  S.  Griffith,  John  M.  Smith. 
. S.  W.  Grant,  Solomon  Freeman. 

. W.  W.  Hurlbut,  J.  C.  Halsey,  M.  D. 

. Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  J.  W.  Buckley. 

. A.  W.  Rose,  Joseph  Boynton. 


♦ 


